Honda's massive battery and electric vehicle assembly complex is scheduled to begin production in Ontario as early as 2028. Experts say these new plants — and the vehicles they will make — will burden the province's power grid, which may have to turn more polluting. energy sources for them.
Although the ontario government Doug Ford It says it is striving to increase renewables, but for now refuses to give up on natural gas, which was responsible for about 13 per cent of Ontario's electricity production last year.
Hydropower accounted for a quarter of this production (25%), while nuclear power accounted for more than half (53%).
For comparison, more than 94% of the electricity produced in Quebec comes from its hydroelectric dams. The rest comes from other renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy.
We are in a situation where Ontario's grid has become significantly less clean. We are seeing tremendous growth in the role of natural gas as a source of electricity in Ontario
watching Mark WinfieldProfessor of Environmental and Urban Change at York University.
Emission quantities [dérivées de la production d’électricité] It has tripled since 2017.
The expert is concerned that adding electric vehicles to our roads and huge collection complexes in the southwest of the province will only exacerbate this dependence on natural gas.
Before they shut down”, “text”: “We are approaching the levels of electricity produced by coal-fired power plants before they shut down”}}”>We are approaching the levels of electricity that our coal-fired power plants were producing before they closed
He said.
Ontario has been praised for its clean energy
Thursday, at AllistonHonda President and CEO Toshihiro Mebe praised the benefits of expanding its presence on Canadian soil, pointing to Ontario's clean energy grid. The world is changing rapidly and we must work together to achieve carbon neutrality
He announced this in a press conference.
The Japanese manufacturer has also committed to selling only electric models in North America by 2040. Here, the goal gets even more ambitious: starting in 2035, all new cars sold in Canada must be electric.
Justin Trudeau also highlighted Environmental responsibility
As a Canadian value, it is rolled out throughout the supply chain. We have a more responsible approach and this is what consumers around the world want.
The Prime Minister confirmed.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Ontario counterpart, Doug Ford, jointly announced Honda's $15 billion project to produce batteries and electric vehicles in Ontario.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Nathan Dennett
danielle britton, CEO The Electric Transport Association of Canada – an association aimed at promoting electric transport – agrees. He claims to balance greenhouse gases from electric cars It keeps getting better
As the governorates move away from sources of pollution to provide themselves with electricity.
Electricity production is moving in the right direction, and electricity is decarbonizing.
It is reported that Alberta must soon close its last two coal-fired power plants and that Nova Scotia has committed to reducing its emissions per kilowatt hour of electricity by 85% to 90% by 2030.
Mr Britton acknowledges that the most populous province has taken a few steps backward in recent years. But it was, he said, a transitional measure to allow Ontario to renew its nuclear power plants.
He explains that in Ontario, we have seen a slight increase in natural gas consumption due to the renovation of a nuclear power plant. But there is an increase in wind energy production, so everything balances out.
Daniel Britton, CEO of Electric Mobility Canada
Photo: Radio-Canada/Jack Poitras
Mr Mark Winfield He answers, however, that this transition
It can last more than a decade. This is the best case scenario, which never happens in Ontario when we talk about nuclear projects.
He said.
Experts — including from the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator and the David Suzuki Foundation — say the province can avoid dependence on natural gas through innovations that make the technologies less energy-intensive, investments in other renewable energies and increased partnership with Hydro-Québec.
But there is no indication that the Ford government will pursue these possible avenues, Mr. Winfield says. Obviously, we depend on natural gas to meet our additional electricity needs.
With information from Yannick Lepage
“Music guru. Incurable web practitioner. Thinker. Lifelong zombie junkie. Tv buff. Typical organizer. Evil beer scholar.”
More Stories
Remote work could impact the design of future cities
Pelado condemns the “continuous obstruction” of Bell, Telus and Rogers
Caisse will have to return $257 million to Alstom