Energy in Ontario -- rebates and enviro plan

[angela bischoff]

Ontario rewards energy-saving purchases

Globe and Mail , Canadian Press
July 20, 2007

TORONTO — A temporary retail sales tax exemption begins Friday for Ontario
residents who purchase certain Energy Star household products.

The exemption applies to products purchased, rented or leased until July
20, 2008. Delivery must take place on or before Sept. 1, 2008.

Energy Star products include refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers,
freezers, dehumidifiers and room air conditioners. Energy Star light bulbs
and decorative light strings are also exempt.

The one-year tax break is expected to save Ontario consumers about
$36-million in 2007-08 and a further $15-million in 2008-09.

Finance Minister Greg Sorbara said climate change is a reality and energy
conservation must be a priority.

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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2007/08/01/ot-nuclear-070801.html

Ontario doesn't need planned nuclear plants: study
August 1, 2007

<http://www.cbc.ca/news/credit.html>CBC New

Ontario could eliminate the need for two planned new nuclear plants by
counting on interprovincial energy imports, stepping up renewable power
generation and encouraging energy conservation, two national environmental
groups say.

The Pembina Institute and World Wildlife Fund want to make the proposed
plants an issue in this fall's election and on Wednesday opened the debate
by presenting a computer modelling study showing how Ontario could meet
future energy needs without the new plants and how it could shut down its
two coal plants before the current 2014 deadline.

"You'd have economic incentives to get rid of your old energy pigs," said
Keith Stewart, climate change campaign manager for the World Wildlife
Federation. "We'd start seeing things like people having solar panels on
their roofs."

The plan outlines two possible energy production scenarios for the
province between 2007 and 2027, using on data from the Ontario Power
Authority and U.S. and European power projects. In those scenarios, the
province could:

Implement all conservation and efficiency resources identified by the
Ontario Power Authority as cost effective and achievable.
Import extra hydroelectric power from Quebec and Manitoba.
Invest in renewable power such as wind farms, biofuel generators and solar
panels.
Harness waste heat from industrial and commercial sites.
Cut back on power from coal, nuclear and natural gas sources.
Spokespeople for both the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario
Energy Association have called the plan impractical.

"The province's industrial plants, potential new automotive investments,
new high tech investments, the millions of jobs these industries support —
 they all need to know Ontario has reliable clean, reliable and
competitively priced baseload power," said Shane Pospisil, head of the
OEA, which represents companies involved in energy transmission,
distribution and marketing in the province.

Energy Minister Dwight Duncan announced in June 2006 that the province
will likely build two new nuclear reactors. This past May, the government
announced it had hired consultants to conduct a $3 million study of
available nuclear reactor technology.

The Ontario election is scheduled for Oct. 10.




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