Final Green Ribbon Panel report outlines concrete recommendations to tackle climate change and grow the economy

Ontario’s Green Ribbon Panel, consisting of Ontario business, environment, labour and energy sector leaders, released its final report at the Toronto Board of Trade on June 24th. The report,?More Clean Power – How Ontario can build a clean economy that works, provides practical and achievable recommendations to guide the province’s path to achieving net zero and mitigating the worst effects of a changing climate.

The final report of the Panel provided 10 recommendations that focused on the need to place an urgent priority on the optimization, full utilization and life extension of existing high-reliability clean energy assets/technologies; support for Ontario’s Clean Energy Credit program; and the importance of developing longer-term clean energy options by advancing permitting and public engagement.

“This final report and its recommendations are all about actionable solutions using proven technologies with a view to the future as we tackle climate change, grow our economy and balance the need for energy security. These are based on made-in-Ontario solutions and represent the consensus of a diverse panel of business, environmental, labour and energy sector leaders." James Scongack, Chair of the Green Ribbon Panel

In addition, the report recommends protecting energy security and system reliability by advancing proven pumped storage technologies as a priority—as well as developing a broader, balanced energy storage strategy that aligns regulatory needs, economics and policy with outcomes and targets. This could be achieved by supporting greater deployment of energy storage assets to provide large volumes of reliable, clean electricity, there must be foundational, reliable, core generating assets with both longevity and reliability. This will require the IESO to consider how energy storage systems, when paired with clean sources, can provide reliability?by acting as a clean flexibility mechanism to?meet peak demand. Evaluation of large storage projects, such as the Ontario Pumped Storage project in Meaford, ON, should be streamlined, while ensuring an open engagement process and considering the input of the communities. In support of this initiative, the IESO should continue to advance its Pathways to Decarbonization initiative to create a fully net- zero electricity grid in the province and place urgency on progressing these large-scale projects.

The Green Ribbon Panel was comprised of:

??James Scongack, Bruce Power – Chair?

??Vanessa Foran, Asthma Canada

??Michelle Johnston, Society of United Professionals

??Andrew Thiele, Bruce Power Net Zero

??Terry Young, Bruce Power Net Zero, former President & CEO of the Independent Electricity System Operator (Ontario)

??Dennis Darby, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

??Mathew Wilson, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters?

??Mark Fisher, Council of the Great Lakes Region

??Robert Stasko, Hydrogen Business Council

??Bruce Wallace, Nuclear Innovation Institute

??Claudia Desanti, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

??Rocco Rossi,?Ontario Chamber of Commerce

??Cara Clairman, Plug’n Drive

??Chris Hilkene, Pollution Probe

??Steve McAulay, Pollution Probe

??Jeff Parnell, Power Workers’ Union

??John Sprackett, Power Workers’ Union

The Green Ribbon Panel was launched in 2020 and published a series of interim reports. This final report was supported by the Bruce Power Centre for New Nuclear and Net Zero Partnerships and the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII).

Read the report and its specific recommendations?here.