Sun-loving Germans show how it’s done

While the Ontario Power Authority’s current plan for increasing the use of solar panels to generate electricity is to add 80 megawatts (MW) of power by the year 2027, Germany is adding that amount of solar capacity every six weeks.

After working on the problem for 10 years, the Germans now generate 2,600 MW of power per year from solar. That’s enough juice to shut down three of their nuclear reactors during the summer months.

Germany is a northern country, like Canada. Sunny enough, but it ain’t Arizona. Click here to learn more about how Germany leads the world in soaking up the sun.

Shelve power line plan in favour of forward-looking energy strategy, group says

TORONTO – Toronto won’t need another giant electricity transmission line if Ontario adopts a forward-looking energy strategy, an east-end community group says.

“The world is on the verge of an energy revolution in which conservation, efficiency, and locally-generated green power will account for the lion’s share of our electricity needs,” said David MacLeod, spokesperson for Transforming Toronto. “The proposed East Toronto Transmission Line is part of the outdated model of super-sized generating stations, monster power lines, and wasted energy.

“It’s the wrong way to go,” he said. “That is why we have called on energy minister Dwight Duncan to shelve plans for the line and spend the $600 million it would cost on cleaner, greener alternatives.”

MacLeod made the comments following the release yesterday of a comprehensive green energy plan for Ontario. The plan by the Pembina Institute and the World Wildlife Fund would conserve more energy and double locally-generated power in Ontario from 15 per cent of the total used today to 30 per cent by 2027.

“Transmission lines typically lose about seven per cent of the electricity they carry, and 17 per cent at peak times on hot days like today,” said MacLeod. “By saving power and generating more of it locally, we can wipe out any need for more big transmission lines.”

Conservation and local energy generation are already working for other jurisdictions, MacLeod said. Ontario’s per capita electricity consumption is more than 50 per cent higher than that of New York state. Germany generates more solar power today than Ontario will generate in 20 years under current plans.

“The future is now,” said MacLeod. “It just isn’t here. Our political leaders need to get with the program.”

For more information, visit transformingtoronto.ca and renewableisdoable.ca.