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.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
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 “The proposed East Toronto Transmission Line is part of the outdated model of super-sized generating stations, monster power lines, and wasted energy.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.
“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.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Takin' it to the Beach!
The Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival this past weekend featured not only great music but also Transforming Toronto's very own power trio of (l to r) Julie Simmons, Sandra Pimpaso, and Jeff Johns. They did a great job of getting the message out about the East Toronto Transmission Line, collected signatures on our petition, and even had a debate with a couple of engineers from the Ontario Power Authority. Interestingly, the engineers revealed an intimate knowledge of the web site at transformingtoronto.ca
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Don’t build near transmission lines, British MPs say
New homes and schools should not be built within 60 metres of High Voltage Overhead Transmission Lines, a committee of British MPs says.
The Cross-Party Inquiry into Childhood Leukaemia and Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields is calling on the British government to “recognize the potential risks to children’s health,” boost research, and educate homeowners and the public about EMF.
The Inquiry also calls on the government to “Consider the potential health risks of EMF exposure as part of the Government’s Energy Review and give full consideration to alternative options, such as local generation, which could contribute to a reduced future need for new HVOTL.”
For full information, click here to read the Inquiry’s report dated July 18, 2007.
The Cross-Party Inquiry into Childhood Leukaemia and Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields is calling on the British government to “recognize the potential risks to children’s health,” boost research, and educate homeowners and the public about EMF.
The Inquiry also calls on the government to “Consider the potential health risks of EMF exposure as part of the Government’s Energy Review and give full consideration to alternative options, such as local generation, which could contribute to a reduced future need for new HVOTL.”
For full information, click here to read the Inquiry’s report dated July 18, 2007.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
East-enders oppose transmission line, support “cleaner, greener”
TORONTO – Residents of several east Toronto neighbourhoods are banding together to fight construction of a giant electricity transmission line now under consideration by the Ontario Power Authority.
“If built, the East Toronto Transmission Line [ETTL] will cost electricity users $600 million that would be much better spent on cleaner, greener energy alternatives,” said David MacLeod, spokesperson for a new community group called Transforming Toronto. “Now is not the time to be pouring our energy into yesterday’s technologies.”
The group has written to Ontario Energy Minister Dwight Duncan, calling on him to issue a legal directive to the Ontario Power Authority that will remove the possibility of the ETTL and invest the $600 million in conservation measures and locally-generated power.
“We’ve heard some general statements from the Minister suggesting that the line might not be built, but ‘might not’ is not ‘will not,’” said MacLeod. “This transmission line is still very much a live issue. We want to see it dead, not just sleeping until the provincial election is over.”
Transforming Toronto plans to make the ETTL an issue in the Oct. 10 election, MacLeod said.
“We’re just a group of citizens, but in the next three months we feel we can reach a lot of people, not only in ridings along the proposed route of the line, but right across Toronto,” he said.
“The future of our city, and our planet, demands strong, progressive leadership on energy issues,” MacLeod said. “What is needed now is a bold approach that says ‘Yes, we can.’ Local power is the answer.”
The group invites all concerned citizens to get involved with the campaign by visiting www.transformingtoronto.ca.
“If built, the East Toronto Transmission Line [ETTL] will cost electricity users $600 million that would be much better spent on cleaner, greener energy alternatives,” said David MacLeod, spokesperson for a new community group called Transforming Toronto. “Now is not the time to be pouring our energy into yesterday’s technologies.”
The group has written to Ontario Energy Minister Dwight Duncan, calling on him to issue a legal directive to the Ontario Power Authority that will remove the possibility of the ETTL and invest the $600 million in conservation measures and locally-generated power.
“We’ve heard some general statements from the Minister suggesting that the line might not be built, but ‘might not’ is not ‘will not,’” said MacLeod. “This transmission line is still very much a live issue. We want to see it dead, not just sleeping until the provincial election is over.”
Transforming Toronto plans to make the ETTL an issue in the Oct. 10 election, MacLeod said.
“We’re just a group of citizens, but in the next three months we feel we can reach a lot of people, not only in ridings along the proposed route of the line, but right across Toronto,” he said.
“The future of our city, and our planet, demands strong, progressive leadership on energy issues,” MacLeod said. “What is needed now is a bold approach that says ‘Yes, we can.’ Local power is the answer.”
The group invites all concerned citizens to get involved with the campaign by visiting www.transformingtoronto.ca.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Welcome to the Transforming Toronto News & View Page
There is a lot happening here at Transforming Toronto and we have only just begun. To stay up-to-date with the latest news in regards to the East Toronto Transmission Line (ETTL) as well as what is going on with Transforming Toronto, bookmark this page and visit regularly or subscribe via email.
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