According to Doomberg1, in 2009, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed the Green Energy Act (GEA), a bill aimed at making the province a leader in climate change. However, the GEA turned into a major scandal as it enriched insiders and led to soaring electricity rates for the public. The government's decision to move expenses from ratepayers to the general budget will cost Ontario taxpayers over $60 billion CAD. As a result, the ruling Liberal Party faced a comprehensive defeat in 2018 and the Progressive Conservatives, led by Doug Ford, took office and repealed the GEA.
Since then, says Doomberg, Ontario's leadership has made significant strides in nuclear power. The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is set to extend its life until 2026, and there are plans to expand the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, which already supplies 30% of Ontario's electricity. The province is also quadrupling the number of small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington New Nuclear Site. These developments align with the government's long-term energy strategy outlined in the document "Powering Ontario's Growth: Ontario's Plan for a Clean Energy Future."
The success of these nuclear initiatives is notable as the technology has gone from being out of fashion to the most practical way of providing predictable, emissions-free power. Ontario Power Generation's refurbishment of the Darlington Nuclear Generation Station has proceeded quickly, with Unit 3 being connected to the grid ahead of schedule. This achievement demonstrates the commitment to completing the refurbishment by the end of 2026 and providing clean, reliable energy for Ontarians.
Unfortunately, the US seems to be following in Ontario's GEA footsteps with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Despite the failures of Ontario's Green Energy Act, the US may repeat the same mistakes with the IRA, resulting in the squandering of public funds and a less stable and more expensive energy grid. The lessons from Ontario's experience should serve as a warning to the US to prioritize a more sensible approach to energy policy.
In conclusion, says Doomberg, Ontario's renaissance in nuclear energy, provides a blueprint (a cheat sheet) for the US to decarbonize effectively without sacrificing the standard of living. The province's commitment to nuclear power has proven to be a success, and it is up to us to learn from their example and make the right choices for a cleaner and more sustainable energy future."
Footnotes:
1 Adapted from source: Doomberg. "Cheat Codes." Doomberg, 20 July 2023, doomberg.substack.com/p/cheat-codes.
