Promising alternatives for Ontario pwer generation covered up by IESO

Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) published a damning and alarming report last fall that purports to prove that it would be absolutely disastrous if the province were to try to shut down its gas power stations as several major municipalities were demanding. The report said that electricity prices would spike by up to 60%, and that "frequent and sustained blackouts" could be expected. It left little or no prospect that such a move could ever be practically achieved.

Now, though, the Ontario Clean Air Alliance has obtained more details of IESO's research under the province's Freedom of Information legislation, and it turns out that what was published was just one scenario out of several that were considered by IESO. 

Among other scenarios, for example, was one where the current increasing federal carbon tax pushed down demand, and the province obtained more clean electricity from neighbouring Quebec, resulting in a stable and reliable supply and power costs increasing by by just 3% a year. Another scenario looked at Ontario meeting its energy needs by a combination of increased energy storage, energy efficiency measures and wind power, which the report concluded would work well and result in a DECREASE in energy costs of up 8%.

However, these scenarios were not reported in the final publication, just the gas-friendly one that coincided with the Conservatives' own anti-renewables messaging. Coincidence? I think not. All of which, puts the "Independent" part of IESO's name somewhat in doubt.