You may have never heard of a Minister’s Zoning Order and that used to be ok – but not anymore – Environmental Defence: These approvals are now diving deep
into areas of decision making that formerly were the responsibility of
municipalities. They include individual development proposals that may
or may not have any support from local governments or the public.

For example, the Minster issued four orders in one day in April and then another seven in August. The
April orders included approval of the destruction of three small
protected wetlands to make way for a large warehouse and distribution
centre in Vaughan and another to allow a retirement community to be
built on farmland in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville. One of the
MZOs issued in August in the Caledon area approves a major new
development that is strongly opposed by the Peel Regional government.

In
addition to undermining and by-passing democratic decision making at
the municipal level, the overuse of MZOs sends a message to developers
that they can get approvals without having to worry about pesky issues
like road access, water and sewer infrastructure, protection of the
environment or whether new housing or businesses are actually wanted or
needed by a community.

You may have never heard of a Minister’s Zoning Order and that used to be ok – but not anymore – Environmental Defence: These approvals are now diving deep
into areas of decision making that formerly were the responsibility of
municipalities. They include individual development proposals that may
or may not have any support from local governments or the public.For example, the Minster issued four orders in one day in April and then another seven in August. The
April orders included approval of the destruction of three small
protected wetlands to make way for a large warehouse and distribution
centre in Vaughan and another to allow a retirement community to be
built on farmland in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville. One of the
MZOs issued in August in the Caledon area approves a major new
development that is strongly opposed by the Peel Regional government.In
addition to undermining and by-passing democratic decision making at
the municipal level, the overuse of MZOs sends a message to developers
that they can get approvals without having to worry about pesky issues
like road access, water and sewer infrastructure, protection of the
environment or whether new housing or businesses are actually wanted or
needed by a community.Read More

Rapid fall to parity predicted for Australian renewable hydrogen costs: The main cost factors creating a barrier to affordable green hydrogen are the cost of the electricity  and the cost of electrolysers, together with capacity utilisation rates.

However, as the authors point out, the cost of renewable electricity from technologies such as solar PV and wind have fallen dramatically over the last few years and are expected to fall even further in the years ahead.

“In many parts of the world, wind and solar power is already the cheapest form of energy for any new built generating capacity. Its average cost is cheaper than electricity from natural gas in many places including Australia and is often cheaper than wholesale prices on the grid,” the report says.

Production of renewable hydrogen is becoming more competitive with that produced by fossil fuel electricity

Rapid fall to parity predicted for Australian renewable hydrogen costs: The main cost factors creating a barrier to affordable green hydrogen are the cost of the electricity  and the cost of electrolysers, together with capacity utilisation rates.However, as the authors point out, the cost of renewable electricity from technologies such as solar PV and wind have fallen dramatically over the last few years and are expected to fall even further in the years ahead.“In many parts of the world, wind and solar power is already the cheapest form of energy for any new built generating capacity. Its average cost is cheaper than electricity from natural gas in many places including Australia and is often cheaper than wholesale prices on the grid,” the report says.Production of renewable hydrogen is becoming more competitive with that produced by fossil fuel electricityRead More