User:Ontarioeditor03/Hydroelectricity in Canada

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Most of Ontario's large hydroelectric sites were exploited in the early 20th century, which limits exenstive expansion from occurring within the province. Nonetheless, efforts by the Government of Canada in collaboration with hydropower entities to expand and maintain hydroelectric resources have been put in motion. This is partly driven by the fact that Ontario is forecasted to have a 60 TWh increase in net energy demand by 2043.

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Possible Expansion in Northern Ontario

Ontario's current hydroelectricity stations are mainly located in southern Ontario. On January 26th, 2022, Todd Smith, the Ontario Minister of Energy requested an analysis report from IESO in support of a voluntary clean energy credit registry for Ontario citizens. According to the report requirements outlined in the letter, the registry would include credit offerings that based from existing, non-emitting generation such as nuclear, waterpower, wind, solar, and bioenergy. CECs are claimable credits that represent one megawatt hour of clean energy.

On February 9th, 2023, a report titled Made in Ontario Northern Hydroelectric Opportunities: Securing a Clean Energy was created by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in collaboration with the Ontario Waterpower Association. In response to Todd Smith's letter. The report claimed that the estimated hydroelectric potential in northern Ontario is 3000-4000 Megawatts. The document also provided the following locations as possible sites for hydroelectric development:

Little Jack River in particular had been an OPG ongoing project since 2011, but had been put on hold as energy demands at that time were insufficient. However, with forecasted new demands, the revival of the project may be considered feasible by the Government of Canada.
 * Little Jackfish River in northwestern Ontario.
 * Mattagami, Moose, and Abitibi Rivers in northeastern Ontario.
 * Severn and Windigo Rivers in northern Ontario.
 * Albany and Attawapiskat Rivers in northern Ontario.

Opposition to Expansion

While the instalment of hydroelectric stations in northern Ontario could potentially meet rising energy demands, public concerns over the environmental damage caused by hydroelectric activities are present. The Ontario River Alliance opposes the creation of new hydroelectric facilities in Ontario, insisting that labeling hydroelectric power as a non-emitting source for CRCs is misinformation and that dams do generate greenhouse gasses from the biomass that accumulates behind them.