Instead of building new nuclear plants, can’t we just use less electricity?
A. Conservation and demand management are a key part of Ontario’s overall energy strategy. The Ontario Power Authority’s long-term energy plan includes plans to reduce peak demand in the province by 6,300 MW by 2025, including a 1,350 MW target for the end of 2007 and another 1,350 MW by 2010. The government has authorized up to $2 billion in new investments in conservation across Ontario. Homeowners are getting help cutting their energy use with programs that offer up to $5,000 for home energy retrofits and provincial sales tax exemptions on energy efficient products such as appliances and lightbulbs. Nuclear plants produced 51.5 per cent of Ontario’s electricity in 2007, and they are expected to continue to be our single largest source of electricity production in 2025.
