Early indications from the Ontario government suggest that the new provincial administration led by Premier Kathleen Wynne is starting off carefully, with plans to engage in conversations about the policies affecting the electricity sector. The government stated in its Speech from the Throne on February 19 that it would “continue its work to end coal-fired energy generation, the single largest climate change initiative currently underway in North America.”
However, there is one area where Premier Wynne appears to be taking a different approach than her predecessor: There seems to be an interest in instituting a more comprehensive system for community consultation prior to the development of new power plants. The Throne Speech talked about the importance of having willing hosts and said “local communities are to be consulted about gas plants, casinos, wind plants and quarries”.
In addition, Premier Wynne made the following comments on Newstalk 1010 radio, in response to a listener question, in January:
“We really need to have community buy-in. We need to make sure communities see the benefit of having these large energy infrastructures in their communities. We need a better process to create that buy-in; whether it’s co-op, or better consultation. So I’m willing to look at how we can get that community buy-in, so that we’ve got willing hosts for this green energy, and also so that we can have communities participating in the production of renewables. ... I think part of the reason [for the opposition to wind power in some communities] is that we didn’t have that good community process, and we need more of that. I’m absolutely committed to it.”
The Throne Speech also acknowledged the government’s support for a review of the decisions related to the relocation of electrical power facilities. In related statements, it conveyed support for smart grid technology to facilitate conservation and energy efficiency, essentially a continuation of existing policy.