An Ontario Energy Conservation Action Plan

PETITION FOR AN ONTARIO ENERGY CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN

If there is a bright side to the August 14th blackout, it is that we have heard politicians use the word conservation more times in the week following the blackout than they have over the entire past decade.

The public did its part admirably in a time of crisis by voluntarily cutting back on electricity consumption. It was a case of conservation-by-sacrifice turning off lights and air-conditioners and cooking by barbeque. Looking beyond the crisis, it is clear that we need to emphasize conservation-by-design ways to make our society more energy efficient without having to rely on personal sacrifice.

Over eighty per cent of Ontarians want to conserve electricity, but we cant do it on voluntary measures alone. We need provincial leadership in making conservation affordable, in supporting community-based education and support services, and in improving the provincial standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Now is the time for an aggressive long-term provincial energy conservation plan that will reduce our overall electrical power consumption by at least 4,000 megawatts, or twenty percent of the current average demand.


WHEREAS the August 14th blackout has given rise to a renewed commitment to conservation in Ontario,

WHEREAS an Ipsos Reid survey shows that 84 per cent of the Ontario public wants to conserve electricity,

WHEREAS the current Ontario government plan for electricity conservation is based largely on voluntary measures and tax rebates for new energy efficient appliances,

WHEREAS the current provincially-subsidized price for electricity is a significant barrier to conservation and green power,


We, the undersigned, call on the government of Ontario to support the Conservation Council of Ontarios four point Energy Conservation Action Plan, including:

1. a 0.7 cents per KWh surcharge on electricity consumption over a baseline conserver amount,

2. a $1 billion conservation and green energy fund,

3. community-based education and support services for conservation and green energy, and

4. stronger standards for renewable energy and efficiency in appliances, lighting, homes, cars, and urban design.