In two study scenarios for 2035 [pdf] that
rely on ambitious energy conservation measures, compared to a third one
that doesn’t, the province saves up to C$9.5 billion on wholesale
electricity costs compared to a plan where new wind and solar
installations are replaced with gas. That’s after factoring in the cost
of efficiency measures that save 23 terawatt-hours of electricity per year.

“We have the once-in-a-generation opportunity to build an electricity
system that expands Ontario’s clean electricity advantage and meets the
needs of both urban and rural communities,” TAF CEO Julia Langer said
in a release. “A modernized and decarbonized grid would remove barriers
and expand opportunities for businesses, communities, and
municipalities that want to reach their climate targets and develop
their own energy projects.”

The report by the Concord, MA- and Toronto-based Power Advisory consultancy coincides with the Ontario government’s plans
to build new gas-fired power plants to meet an expected electricity
shortage. It arrives just a couple of weeks before the province’s
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is due to release its own
Pathways to Decarbonization study.