Cold Air from Wordpress

This is a post written by Bruce Sharp. An earlier version appeared on Linkedin. Well, the (subsidized, one would suppose) L.E.D. light bulb finally went on at Queen’s Park last week concerning electricity costs. Kathleen Wynne says high cost of hydro is concern across province | CBC Did a single by-election loss cause this awakening? In this day of politicians seemingly and completely incapable of climbing down from heavily entrenched positions, this seems to represent at least some progress – admitting there’s a problem.   Upon hearing this news, my mind went to what the government would do to provide relief – the depth, breadth and source of funds. Since 2003, we’ve had a number of dubious band-aid solutions, including a retroactive price freeze, the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit, an end to the Debt Retirement Charge (for residential consumers) and the Ontario Electricity Support Payment. What would be next? We now know it’ll be a removal of the 8% provincial sales tax -- for thos...

  Tom Adams has a very good post following a discussion on Zoomer radio with the current Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. Dr. Dianne Saxe Environmental Commissioner... On Wednesday last week, you and I were guests on the radio show “Fight Back with Libby Znaimer” on the AM radio station CFZM Toronto. A podcast of that interview is available here . You made the following six major points: Climate change means that Ontario has much higher temperatures and longer heat waves. Ontario’s infrastructure was built for the climate that we used to have but unfortunately that is over and won’t come back…If we look at the data, there is a very significant difference that we’re seeing in the last couple of decades from the average temperature of the 20th century, which is what most of our infrastructure was built to. If you look at what is driving Ontario rates up, conservation contributed only 4% of Global Adjustment in 2015. Residential rates in Ontario are average for North Ameri...

If you've never read Gail Tverberg, this would be a good place to start.