TORONTO, May 13, 2024
/CNW/ - The second discussion
paper, https://www.pwu.ca/new-planning-approach, in a series
by the Power Workers' Union (PWU) was released today. These papers
are offered to prompt discussion on better ways for Ontario to meet its growing electricity demand
at a lower cost, with lower carbon emissions and in a more
reliable, affordable and timely manner.
Ontario's Powering
Ontario's Growth (POG) report
laid out a pathway to ensure Ontario has the energy needed to power
economic growth and electrification over the next three decades
while maintaining its clean electricity advantage. The IESO's
Annual Planning Outlook (AOP) is not addressing this objective.
"Ontario urgently needs to
accelerate building the scale of low-carbon infrastructure on a
timeline that meets the province's long-term resource
requirements," "which may instead enable upside opportunities,"
said Jeff Parnell, President of the
PWU. "There is minimal risk for Ontario to aggressively build out non-emitting
baseload supply and beginning now the IESO should be procuring for
those, not additional flexible resources. Ontario further requires a transparent
transition strategy for the non-emitting baseload resources
required to displace the use of the new gas-fired generation that
Ontario will be forced to acquire
in the next few years," concluded Parnell.
The next PWU discussion paper will focus on the affordability
risks that are mounting as Ontario's planning approach continues to
shorten the available timelines for addressing the infrastructure
required to achieve a NZ economy.
About the Power Workers'
Union
The Power Workers' Union (PWU), proudly Canadian, represents
over 18,000 highly skilled and dedicated men and women in
Ontario's electricity sector. For
over seventy years, the men and women of the PWU have been critical
to keeping the province's lights on. The PWU remains a strong
supporter and advocate for the prudent and rational reform of
Ontario's electricity sector and
recognizes the importance of planning for low-cost, low-carbon
energy solutions to enhance the competitiveness of Ontario's economy.
SOURCE Power Workers' Union