Latest news with #IndependentElectricitySystemOperator
Global News
3 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Ontario introducing legislation to connect data centres to energy more easily
Ontario is introducing legislation that will allow the agency that manages the province's energy grid to prioritize projects — including data centres — that meet economic growth criteria, among other changes. On Tuesday, Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce unveiled new legislation he said would support the growth of the province's energy sector. The proposed Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act includes clauses to allow the Independent Electricity System Operator to prioritize certain projects for connection to the grid, lean into made-in-Canada energy technology for security and increase the emphasis on hydrogen. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'As global competition intensifies, energy demand surges, and affordability becomes more important than ever, Ontario isn't standing still — we're stepping up,' Lecce said in a statement. The government is particularly pointing to the emergence of data centres — large computing buildings that store cloud information and manage artificial intelligence operations — as a reason for the tweak. Story continues below advertisement Currently, all projects are connected to the grid with equal importance, according to the government. The tweak would allow the IESO to prioritize projects of economic importance, like data centres. The government's calculations show 6,500 megawatts of power is currently needed for data centres. The figure is equivalent to 30 per cent of peak demand for the province. 'That's a ton of power,' Lecce said. 'That's three Pickerings, that's almost two Darlingtons of power just for data centres.' The proposed legislation would remove the non-discriminatory clause that governs Ontario's grid. The law is not expected to pass until after the legislature returns in the fall.
Toronto Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Ontario electricity produced with rising percentage of greenhouse-gas-emitting power
The percentage of natural gas generation has been increasing over the past several years Published May 14, 2025 • 4 minute read A compressor station is shown on Lakeshore Road 309 in Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Photo by Dan Janisse / Postmedia Ontario's electricity is now being produced with the highest percentage of greenhouse-gas-emitting power since coal plants were operating in the province. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Independent Electricity System Operator recently posted its 2024 year in review, which contains a breakdown of how much electricity was produced from various sources. It shows that last year 16 per cent of the electricity in Ontario's grid was produced by natural gas, making it 84 per cent emissions free — down from 87 per cent the year before and down from a high of 96 per cent in 2017. The last time Ontario's electricity was produced with at least 16 per cent of emitting power was in 2012, when the province still had coal-fired generation. Nuclear led the way in 2024, with 51 per cent of Ontario's electricity generated by those plants, and about 24 per cent came from hydro power. The percentage of natural gas generation in Ontario's electricity system has been increasing over the past several years. The IESO says gas provides more flexibility than many other sources, and more is being used while some nuclear units undergo refurbishments so the system remains stable. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Outages to nuclear generation from this work combined with reduced supply from imports also resulted in gas generation's higher contribution to overall output in 2024,' the IESO said in its report. Alienor Rougeot, climate and energy senior program manager at Environmental Defence, said the need to resort to gas to fill in the gaps was preventable if Ontario had acted sooner to boost renewable energy and battery storage. 'I think this is one of those key moments that is extremely upsetting and yet super predictable, which is that the energy planning and the poor decisions that get made five, eight years prior to that now are starting to show up in those supply mixes,' she said. Premier Doug Ford cancelled 750 renewable energy contracts shortly after his Progressive Conservatives formed government in 2018, after the former Liberal government had faced widespread anger over long-term contracts with clean power producers at above-market rates. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The IESO had been set in 2023 to seek out non-emitting electricity generation to bring more capacity into the system but after Energy Minister Stephen Lecce came into the portfolio in 2024, he announced the procurement would be 'technology agnostic.' Critics said that not only opens the door to natural gas but may favour bringing more of it online. Lecce said the rise in non-emitting electricity generation is 'entirely predictable' due to the ongoing nuclear refurbishments. 'Having said that, we're actually going to have a greener, cleaner grid, getting down to below 99 per cent non-emitting by 2050,' he said. 'So this is part of the journey as we take our non-emitting nuclear units off the grid, because they need to get refurbished for another 40, 50 years.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The government often touts Ontario's clean electricity grid as a top selling point when attracting businesses and investment to the province, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said he's not sure that at 84 per cent clean it is as attractive as it once was. 'I'm deeply concerned that our grid has gotten 12 per cent dirtier over the last few years, especially when the government itself says that one of the competitive advantages Ontario has in attracting global capital investment is our clean grid,' he said. 'The Ford government is losing that advantage at a time we need to be attracting capital more now than ever.' Lecce said the electricity grid is still a good selling feature and will only get better. 'When we're getting to near 99 per cent, it's an incredible achievement that no industrialized economy can point to,' he said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We're very proud of the fact that we have one of the cleanest grids today. We'll have an even cleaner grid tomorrow as we get our nuclear fleets back.' In addition to ongoing and planned refurbishments of units at the province's large-scale nuclear plants, construction on the first of four small modular reactors is set to begin this year. The $21-billion project for the four reactors is expected to produce enough power for 1.2 million homes. Stephen Thomas, clean energy manager at the David Suzuki Foundation, said that small modular reactors are one of the most expensive generation options. But natural gas can also be expensive, and the province should be looking more at renewables, he said. 'We think wind and solar are ready for prime time,' he said. 'As we look to the future, we only see the cost of wind, solar and storage coming down over time, and we see the opposite for natural gas. The cost of natural gas is hugely volatile, and it's hard to depend on what the spot price of natural gas might be in 10 years or 20 years.' Sunshine Girls NHL Columnists Sunshine Girls Editorials
Global News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Ontario electricity produced with rising percentage of greenhouse-gas-emitting power
Ontario's electricity is now being produced with the highest percentage of greenhouse-gas-emitting power since coal plants were operating in the province. The Independent Electricity System Operator recently posted its 2024 year in review, which contains a breakdown of how much electricity was produced from various sources. It shows that last year 16 per cent of the electricity in Ontario's grid was produced by natural gas, making it 84 per cent emissions free – down from 87 per cent the year before and down from a high of 96 per cent in 2017. The last time Ontario's electricity was produced with at least 16 per cent of emitting power was in 2012, when the province still had coal-fired generation. Nuclear led the way in 2024, with 51 per cent of Ontario's electricity generated by those plants, and about 24 per cent came from hydro power. Story continues below advertisement The percentage of natural gas generation in Ontario's electricity system has been increasing over the past several years. The IESO says gas provides more flexibility than many other sources, and more is being used while some nuclear units undergo refurbishments so the system remains stable. 'Outages to nuclear generation from this work combined with reduced supply from imports also resulted in gas generation's higher contribution to overall output in 2024,' the IESO said in its report. Aliénor Rougeot, climate and energy senior program manager at Environmental Defence, said the need to resort to gas to fill in the gaps was preventable if Ontario had acted sooner to boost renewable energy and battery storage. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I think this is one of those key moments that is extremely upsetting and yet super predictable, which is that the energy planning and the poor decisions that get made five, eight years prior to that now are starting to show up in those supply mixes,' she said. Premier Doug Ford cancelled 750 renewable energy contracts shortly after his Progressive Conservatives formed government in 2018, after the former Liberal government had faced widespread anger over long-term contracts with clean power producers at above-market rates. The IESO had been set in 2023 to seek out non-emitting electricity generation to bring more capacity into the system but after Energy Minister Stephen Lecce came into the portfolio in 2024, he announced the procurement would be 'technology agnostic.' Critics said that not only opens the door to natural gas but may favour bringing more of it online. Story continues below advertisement Lecce said the rise in non-emitting electricity generation is 'entirely predictable' due to the ongoing nuclear refurbishments. 'Having said that, we're actually going to have a greener, cleaner grid, getting down to below 99 per cent non-emitting by 2050,' he said. 'So this is part of the journey as we take our non-emitting nuclear units off the grid, because they need to get refurbished for another 40, 50 years.' The government often touts Ontario's clean electricity grid as a top selling point when attracting businesses and investment to the province, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said he's not sure that at 84 per cent clean it is as attractive as it once was. 'I'm deeply concerned that our grid has gotten 12 per cent dirtier over the last few years, especially when the government itself says that one of the competitive advantages Ontario has in attracting global capital investment is our clean grid,' he said. 'The Ford government is losing that advantage at a time we need to be attracting capital more now than ever.' Lecce said the electricity grid is still a good selling feature and will only get better. 'When we're getting to near 99 per cent, it's an incredible achievement that no industrialized economy can point to,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'We're very proud of the fact that we have one of the cleanest grids today. We'll have an even cleaner grid tomorrow as we get our nuclear fleets back.' In addition to ongoing and planned refurbishments of units at the province's large-scale nuclear plants, construction on the first of four small modular reactors is set to begin this year. The $21-billion project for the four reactors is expected to produce enough power for 1.2 million homes. Stephen Thomas, clean energy manager at the David Suzuki Foundation, said that small modular reactors are one of the most expensive generation options. But natural gas can also be expensive, and the province should be looking more at renewables, he said. 'We think wind and solar are ready for prime time,' he said. 'As we look to the future, we only see the cost of wind, solar and storage coming down over time, and we see the opposite for natural gas. The cost of natural gas is hugely volatile, and it's hard to depend on what the spot price of natural gas might be in 10 years or 20 years.'
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ontario slaps 25 per cent surcharge on electricity to U.S., warns it could go higher
TORONTO — Ontario has placed a surcharge of 25 per cent on electricity exported to the United States as of Monday, and the government says it could raise that amount even higher in response to further American escalation. Premier Doug Ford has announced the price increase on the electricity the province sends to 1.5 million homes in three U.S. states as one of Ontario's retaliatory measures against tariffs imposed on Canadian goods by President Donald Trump. "Believe me when I say I do not want to do this," Ford said Monday at a press conference. "I feel terrible for the American people, because it's not the American people who started this trade war. It's one person who's responsible, that's President Trump." Ford said the surcharge will add an estimated $100 per month to the average bills of affected American ratepayers, and it will generate $300,000 to $400,000 in revenue for the province each day. Ontario will use that money to reduce electricity bills for ratepayers in the province, Ford said. Speaking on PBS News Hour Monday evening, the premier said he'd prefer to create an American-Canadian fortress, and "be the strongest, most resilient, and richest safest two countries in the world." "I have talked to three governors. They understand the situation we're in. We have to negotiate through strengths, not weakness," Ford said. The province has also taken American alcohol off Liquor Control Board of Ontario shelves and banned U.S. companies from government procurement contracts, in addition to the federal government's initial round of retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of American goods. The electricity surcharge is being imposed by a directive from Energy Minister Stephen Lecce to the Independent Electricity System Operator, which will require any generator selling electricity to the U.S. to add what's being called a Tariff Response Charge. The IESO will then collect the money generated by the surcharge on behalf of the government on a monthly basis. Ontario says it could increase or decrease the electricity surcharge amount at any time in response to actions by the U.S. government. In a Truth Social post Monday night, Trump reacted to the surcharge by calling Canada a "tariff abuser," reiterating that the U.S. doesn't need Canada's resources and "is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer." "Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, we'll just get it all back on April 2," he said. The premier has also threatened to shut off power completely to Minnesota, New York and Michigan if the tariffs remain. Ford said Monday that could be achieved by reducing the amount of electricity generated by hydroelectric stations. He urged other provinces – in particular Alberta, which sends about four million barrels of oil per day to the United States – to look at leveraging their energy resources. "A message to Premier (Danielle) Smith: one day, I think you might have to use that trump card and give approval for an export tax," he said. "You want to talk about a trump card? That will instantly change the game, instantly, when the Americans – and I know the Americans – all of a sudden their gas prices go up 90 (cents) to $1 a gallon, they will lose their minds. So we need to at least put that in the window." Smith quickly shot that down. "Alberta will never agree to such an absurd and self destructive idea," she wrote in a post on social media. "It's not an option. I'm not going to agree to do something that will cost hundreds of thousands of Albertans (and Canadians) their jobs almost overnight. That would be like placing export tariffs on Ontario auto parts. Also a bad idea." This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2025. Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
Bloomberg
10-03-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ontario Raises Electricity Price by 25% for Minnesota, Michigan and New York
A Canadian province that exports electricity to the US raised power prices for three states by 25% on Monday in retaliation for President Donald Trump's tariffs. Ontario directed its grid operator, the Independent Electricity System Operator, to add a C$10 ($7) per megawatt-hour surcharge to all power exported to Minnesota, Michigan and New York.
