Opportunities Available in Ontario’s Energy Landscape

Craig Bakay | May 01, 2024

Renewable energy is cost-prohibitive for most people but load-shifting can be affordable for some entities like colleges and universities, Lisa Asbreuk, partner at Cunningham Swan, told North Frontenac Council at its regular meeting April 26 in Plevna.

Asbreuk appeared as a delegate via Zoom, and made a Power Point presentation to council.

She was invited to make the presentation by Deputy Mayor John Inglis, who saw a longer presentation by hers at a meeting of SWITCH, a 22 year-old Kingston-based organisation devoted to promoting alternative energy solutions.

“A system needs capacity for reliability,” she said. “It has to be available when called upon. But it’s very expensive.”

She said an example of this is when wind systems are only available later in the day.

“Phasing out of gas systems is simply not feasible at this time,” she said. “We actually need more of them. By all estimates, we need a lot more, perhaps three times as much, energy.”

She said shortfalls are beginning now and soon could become worse, and pointed out that every technology in the supply network comes with its own pros and cons.

She said that from 2018 to 2023, there have been some small BTM (Behind The Meter) solar installations and some incremental policy improvements for small installations. Net metering is permitted as is virtual (third party) net metering but interconnecting costs remain a challenge.

There have been some BTM battery installations but it’s mainly industrial customers for peak pricing avoidance.

There is no integrated resource plan, and no new wind farms, solar farms or open procurement processes for any renewable energy, and this has resulted in skilled professionals focussing on Alberta and the U.S. instead of Ontario.

Energy systems college/trades graduates are leaving Ontario and project work for sub trades has ended.

There is no renewable energy capital invested in Ontario (except existing assets) and adversarial messaging, litigation and change of law shock has made for an unwelcome investment climate.

She said the forecast is for more aggressive electricity demand, which would require 69,000 megawatts of non-emitting supply assuming an electricity annual growth rate of 2.7 per cent.

In order to ‘decarbonize (ie transition to electricity) we will need 17,800 megawatts of new nuclear, 17,600 new megawatts of wind, 650 new megawatts of hydroelectric, 6,000 new megawatts of solar until 2036 and current battery procurement plus 2,000 megawatts of new long duration batteries in the late 2030s.

In 2024, we have installed capacity of 10.1 gigawatts of nuclear, 10.4 gigawatts of gas/oil, 9.3 gigawatts of hydroelectric, 5.5 gigawatts of wind, 2.6 gigawatts of solar, 0.4 gigawatts of bioenergy, 0.3 gigawatts of imports and 0.02 gigawatts of storage.

Our resource adequacy in the short term is dependent on gas and re-contracting. In the medium term, it’s stressed but still dependent on gas but in the long term, it’s inadequate, even if we go all-in on nuclear.

But, she said, Eastern Ontario is in a good position to attract new projects because of a transmission advantage.

“The electricity transmission system is in transition and will be for 20-30 years,” she said.

“We have a major transmission corridor running right through our Township,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis. “I suspect there would be major economic and job opportunities if we were to look at battery storage.”

“If you are approached by a battery storage developer, the economic opportunity is very significant,” Asbreuk said.

“The creation of these battery systems creates a big carbon footprint,” said Coun. Vernon Hermer.

“The previous government was big on green energy and it cost us a lot of money,” said Coun. Fred Fowler.

Sproule retires from Committee of Adjustment after 26 years

Council honoured resident Barbara Sproule on her retirement from the Committee of Adjustment for “so much in the way of service and guidance” with a bit of a party and flowers. (see article)

Joint meeting with AH Council

Council agreed to the desire for a joint meeting with Addington Highlands Council and Coun. Wayne Good said reserves for the joint Kaladar-Barrie Fire Department needs to be on the agenda.

“Also their attitude to renewable energy sources,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis.

Inglis also suggested the meeting be in a committee of the whole format.

Bins for returnables at waste sites.

Council passed a bylaw allowing the Clar-Mill Community volunteers to install bins at the Ompah and Mississippi Waste Sites to collect returnable bottles and cans.

New Fire Chief Named

After an in camera meeting, Council named North Frontenac resident Adam Robinson as the new Fire Chief/Director of Emergency Services.