Wind Energy Doubles Contribution to Ontario Electricity Supply

Jan 10, 2014

The 2013 Ontario Electricity Data report released by the of Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operators (IESO) confirms that wind energy production in Ontario has doubled over the past four years. According to the report, the annual Ontario production of wind energy has grown from 2.3 TWh in 2009 to 5.2 TWh in 2013. That translates into wind generating enough electricity to power 550,000 Ontario homes in 2013.

“We believe that future electricity supply in Ontario should be drawn from a balanced mix of new wind energy, in combination with natural gas and other renewable energy sources, to ensure that Ontario has a reliable, robust and cost-competitive electricity system,” says CanWEA President Robert Hornung.

“The 100 communities across Canada that host wind energy operations, developments and businesses, as well as Ontario’s Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP), recognize that wind energy is a proven, reliable and cost-competitive energy solution that drives economic diversification, environmental sustainability and rate-base value,” he says.

CanWEA predicts that wind energy will continue to increase significantly over the next few years as more energy projects get added into the power grid.

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.