I support Guelph’s Community Energy Initiative (CEI). I believe this is a visionary initiative that establishes an important model for community energy planning across the province.
I’m committed to working with you to champion the CEI and to push provincial ministries and agencies to support it. I am opposed to provincial plans that would undermine or create barriers to the implementation of Guelph’s CEI.
I’m deeply concerned that the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and Hydro One are planning to build additional transmission lines to supply Guelph with power generated outside Guelph. This proposal would undermine Guelph’s efforts to meet energy needs locally. It would hurt local job creation and green energy businesses. It would diminish the economic and environmental benefits of the CEI.
With the CEI, Guelph has an opportunity to save energy and generate its own power to meet future energy needs at lower cost. Guelph Hydro and private sector and community developers have submitted applications to the OPA for approximately 60 megawatts of new small-scale renewable and combined heat and power (CHP) projects to be built in Guelph.
I encourage you to support the CEI and push the OPA approve the 60 MW of solar PV, CHP and biogas projects proposed across the city. I also encourage you to call on the OPA to fund and aggressively pursue conservation and demand management programs in Guelph, starting with an effort to enrol more residents in Guelph Hydro’s Peaksaver Plus program. Finally I believe you should call on the OPA and Hydro One to halt plans to build new transmission lines to Guelph before every effort is made to meet Guelph’s electricity needs locally through the CEI framework.
The people of Guelph have proven in the past — with waste management and again with water efficiency — that citizen awareness and a focus on conservation will produce results. Guelph can lead when it comes to community energy as well. It’s time for Hydro One and the OPA to take Guelph’s CEI seriously.
Thank you for your attention. Please let me know how I can best support the city’s efforts to protect and promote the Community Energy Initiative. I am happy to discuss this project with any councillor, city staff member, or organization who wishes for more detailed input or suggestions.
Mike Schreiner
Leader
Green Party of Ontario