Ontario Clean Air Alliance
The Works and Utilities Committee recommends the adoption of the following reports
from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:
(June 30, 19989)
Purpose:
To comment on the recommendations of, and membership in the Ontario Clean Air
Alliance.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no direct funding implications of this report, however the implications to the
benefit of the City economy are significant.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the City of Toronto accept membership in the Ontario Clean Air Alliance;
(2)the air emission standards proposed by the Alliance be endorsed and that staff report
further on ways to achieve additional reductions in emissions;
(3)prior to the deregulation of the power market, Ontario Hydro be requested to purchase
power generated from methane recovery projects at municipal landfills in Ontario as a way
to improve air quality in Toronto and other Ontario municipalities;
(4)Toronto Hydro be requested to consider the purchase of power from City methane
recovery projects should a deregulated electricity market be implemented;
(5)staff and representatives of Toronto Hydro be requested to invite the operators of the
Britannia Landfill, located in the Region of Peel, to discuss a proposal for a project to
maximize the use of methane for green power production and possible electricity purchase
by Toronto Hydro should a deregulated electricity market be implemented;
(6)Toronto Hydro and Toronto District Heating Corporation be invited to participate with
staff in a project to develop local cogeneration in connection with heat production for
district energy customers in preparation for implementation of a deregulated electricity
market; and
(7) staff be requested to prepare presentations to the Standing Committee of the Ontario
legislature scheduled for August 1998 on the proposed Energy Competition Act, 1998.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The Works and Utilities Committee, at its meeting on May 20, 1998, endorsed, in principle,
the recommendations embodied in a communication from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance,
"Electricity Competition and Clean Air", April 1998, and requested the Commissioner of
Works and Emergency Services to report on the recommendations and membership in the
Alliance.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Recently, Ontario Hydro announced the planned shut down of 4400 megawatts of nuclear
generating capacity in Ontario. To make up for the lost capacity, Ontario Hydro plans to
increase the use of fossil fired generation in Ontario and under contract with mid-western
US power suppliers. Increased power production is expected from Lakeview Generating
Station and Nanticoke Generating Station which are southwest of the City of Toronto. The
prevailing winds in the summer smog season are from the southwest. We are concerned that
the increased use of fossil generation will increase the risk of smog events in Toronto.
Recently, Ontario Hydro issued two requests for proposals (RFP) to help to overcome the
shortage in generating capacity. One RFP focused on demand management which is
reducing the demand for electricity, and the other RFP focused on generation. Unfortunately
the second RFP was time-limited and received little interest from independent power
producers.
Using methane instead of coal to generate electricity reduces air pollution and CO2
emissions. While in the past Ontario Hydro had a policy of not accepting power from
independent producers due to a generating capacity surplus, the change to a shortage of
generating capacity as a result of nuclear shutdown would support a new policy of accepting
power generated from landfill gas and local cogeneration. It is recommended that the City of
Toronto request the Board of Ontario Hydro to review its position respecting the purchase of
power generated using methane recovered from landfill.
The Britannia landfill located west of Toronto has the potential to support power generation
in the same manner as Keele Valley. The Britannia Landfill is operated by the Region of
Peel. If Ontario Hydro were to agree to purchase power from the Britannia landfill, Ontario
Hydro could conceivably reduce the burning of coal at the Lakeview Generating Station.
This action would improve Toronto air quality.
On implementation of an electricity market, power purchasers would have the option of
purchasing green power from landfill gas recovery. The amalgamated Toronto Hydro has a
very significant purchasing power. It may have green power customers prepared to purchase
power from landfill gas recovery projects. The three existing City projects at Brock West,
Beare and Keele Valley would be able to generate power for sale to Toronto Hydro. There is
potential for an electrical power production project at the Britannia landfill that would be
environmentally friendly by virtue of the clean methane fuel and that would improve City
air quality.
Air emission standards are essential for the proposed deregulated power sector. There are
significant structural opportunities to reduce emissions other than traditional stack
technology. The opportunities include local cogeneration coupled with Toronto District
Heating Corporation heating plants and additional methane recovery from municipal
landfills in Southern Ontario. The Ontario Clean Air Alliance has proposed that the existing
standards that Ontario Hydro must meet should apply to the entire new deregulated
electricity market. We concur and add that further reductions in allowable emissions levels
can be realized through the use of innovative energy systems such as local cogeneration.
Cogeneration is a very significant way to help meet the City target for the reduction of
carbon dioxide emissions of 20 percent below the 1988 level by 2005.
The Ontario Government is expected to schedule hearings before the Standing Committee
of the legislature into the proposed Energy Competition Act, 1998 in August 1998. The City
of Toronto in collaboration with the Ontario Clean Air Alliance has the opportunity to
present a case for strong emissions controls at the hearings.
The revised Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998 would establish the Ontario Energy Board
(OEB) as the independent regulator for the electricity market. The OEB would ensure
environmental standards compliance through licensing: emissions trading, emissions caps,
emissions performance standards and pollution disclosure requirements.
Conclusions:
The recommendations of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance should be endorsed and the City of
Toronto should join other members including municipal electric utilities and accept
membership in the Alliance to work for better controls of emissions from power generation.
Contact Name:
Kevin Loughborough, P. Eng., Works and Emergency Services
(416) 392-8845; (416) 392-4540 fax.
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(July 14, 1998)
Purpose:
To add a further recommendation to the report entitled "Ontario Clean Air Alliance", dated
June 30, 1998.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Not applicable.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services in consultation
with the Commissioners of Community and Neighbourhood Services; Economic
Development, Culture and Tourism; Urban Planning and Development Services; and
Corporate Services, be authorized to represent the City of Toronto to the Standing
Committee of the Ontario Legislature commencing in August 1998 on the proposed Energy
Competition Act, 1998, to address the potential impact of this Act on the City.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The Works and Utilities Committee, at its meeting on May 20, 1998, endorsed, in principle,
the recommendations embodied in a communication from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance,
"Electricity Competition and Clean Air", April 1998, and requested the Commissioner of
Works and Emergency Services to report on the recommendations and membership in the
Alliance.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Recommendation No. (7) of the report entitled "Ontario Clean Air Alliance", dated June 30,
1998, states that "staff be requested to prepare presentations to the Standing Committee of
the Ontario Legislature scheduled for August 1998 on the proposed Energy Competition Act,
1998".
Ontario's Energy Competition Act, 1998 was introduced as a Bill in the Legislature earlier
this year. The Act substantively reflects the White Paper on the electricity reform released
by the Ontario Government last November. The Ontario Government plans to hold public
hearings on the Act starting in August 1998, and to past the Act into law a few months later.
This Act potentially has major implications for the City of Toronto with respect to energy
efficiency and protection of the environment, economic development, protection of
consumers' interest with regard to price, security of electricity services, reliability and a
range of other major areas.
The Act is composed in four parts as below:
(1) the new Electricity Act, 1998 ;
(2) a revised Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998;
(3) amendments to the Ontario Municipal Employee Retirement System Act; and
(4) amendments to and repeals of a number of legislation.
Conclusions:
In view of the potential impact of this Act on the City of Toronto, a strategic and
coordinated response to the Standing Committee of the Ontario Legislature should be
undertaken.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Eleanor McAteer, Director, Environmental Division
City Works Services, Toronto Community Council Area
Phone: (416) 392-7763; Fax: (416) 392-1456
E-mail: "emcateer@city.toronto.on.ca".
