Ontario and Québec have just announced that they're one step closer to building a high speed rail link. The premiers of these two provinces say that this is an "idea whose time has come". In 1995, according the the Toronto Star, a report concluded that high-speed rail between Ontario and Québec "would woo passengers away from cars and airlines, resulting in a 20 per cent cut in energy consumption related to intercity travel," and also forecast a greenhouse gas reduction. Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, three new tidal power systems have the go-ahead. The tidal power projects could produce 300 megawatts—enough to power almost 100,000 homes (Globe and Mail 9-01-08 A5). While these developments are still in the future, this is evidence that the political tide may be turning for more green, large-scale infrastructure in Canada.
Here are a few other announcements to watch:
- PEI announced several years back that they want to become energy self-sufficient, using the abundant wind energy in the province to supply their 200 MW demand, generating hydrogen at peak periods to supply electricity generators when the wind isn't blowing.
- The Federal government announced a 1.5 billion dollar investment to boost Canadian biofuels production. The federal government has already made announcements about where some of this money is destined. There are already concrete numbers available for where part of this money will be invested in Nova Scotia and Québec.
- The City of Toronto is replacing all of its garbage bins in an effort to divert 70% of its trash. Using the smallest bin would be free, as would recycling and disposal of organics. In an effort to encourage less waste curbside, residents would pay increased sums (up to $150 per year) for larger bins.
- BC's Green Plan proposes to have all energy produced in the province carbon neutral by 2016, and all public sector organizations carbon neutral by 2010.
These investments do more than change the energy profile of a single province, or the waste profile of a city. They show other governments that this is a train worth getting on.
Do you know of other ambitious, green, Canadian projects, at the federal, provincial, or municipal levels? Do you have a sense of how existing projects are faring? Drop us a comment!
Front Page Photo: Bianca Meyer
Inside Photo: Nova Scotia Department of Energy
