Ontario is moving ahead with a new round of electricity projects that include solar and wind generation, as part of efforts to meet growing demand for power across the province.
The province says 14 projects have been approved through a competitive procurement process, providing more than 1,300 megawatts of electricity capacity-enough to power roughly 350,000 homes.
Officials say the projects were selected through a bidding process aimed at reducing costs for consumers compared to earlier energy programs. The contracts will run for 20 years, with projects required to come online before 2030.
The Ontario Clean Air Alliance says the average price for electricity from the new renewable projects is about 8.8 cents per kilowatt hour.
That compares to approximately 21.4 cents per kilowatt hour for some proposed nuclear generation and more than 32 cents for certain new reactor projects, highlighting a significant cost difference.
The province maintains that renewable energy will be one part of a broader electricity system that also includes nuclear, hydroelectricity, and natural gas to ensure reliability.
Energy experts note that while renewable projects can often be built more quickly and at lower upfront cost, they typically work alongside other sources that provide consistent, around-the-clock power.
For Ontario residents, the long-term impact on electricity bills will depend on how these different energy sources are combined as demand continues to grow.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
