The Ministry of Energy (Ministry) is proposing a regulation under the Green Energy Act, 2009 (GEA) that would require Ontario’s public agencies (including hospitals) to submit an energy conservation plan to the Ministry every three years, and energy consumption data annually.
The GEA is part of Ontario’s plan to become a leading green economy in North America. The Act is expected to create a growth in clean and renewable sources of energy in Ontario, and through conservation measures, create the potential for savings and better managed energy expenditures. Half of Ontario’s Long Term Energy Plan conservation target (of 7,100MW by 2030) comes from the commercial sector, which includes institutional buildings in the Broader Public Sector.
Building on these initiatives, the Minister is initiating a public consultation on a proposed regulation under the GEA that would require Ontario’s public agencies (including hospitals) to demonstrate the leadership role government can play in energy conservation by developing and implementing conservations plans.
Once implemented, the regulation would help provide the Ontario government and public agencies with information on how energy is used within each sector, allow organizations to determine how their facilities compare to similar facilities and how they are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Data collected over time may be used to shape new Ontario programs and policies. As part of its review, the Ministry invites interested parties to provide written comments based on the plain language document of the regulation which can be found on the Environmental Registry no later than July 1, 2011.
The OHA will be making a submission to the Ministry on the proposed regulation. To ensure all perspectives are captured, the OHA would like to invite you to share your thoughts on the proposed regulation and contribute to the OHA’s submission to the Ministry of Energy.
You are invited to provide your comments in writing to green@oha.com or during the OHA’s Energy Conservation Plans for Public Agencies teleconference to be held on Thursday June 23, 2011, from 10:00am to 11:30pm.
If you would like to participate in the teleconference or have comments on the proposed regulation, please write to us at green@oha.com.
Teleconference details will be provided to attendees closer to the date. For those that cannot attend, written comments will be received until June 23, 2011.