February 22, 2024 – Today, the Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) released two (2) new resources – A Community Guide to Waterpower and a Community Engagement Toolkit for Waterpower Proponents, designed to empower and foster community engagement in Made-in-Ontario waterpower projects.
The Community Guide to Waterpower serves as an informative handbook, offering communities a clear and accessible overview of the waterpower industry in Ontario. It covers various aspects of waterpower projects to provide communities with the knowledge needed to actively participate in discussions and decisions related to local waterpower initiatives. The Community Engagement Toolkit for Waterpower Proponents is a practical resource that provides waterpower proponents with tools and strategies to enhance community engagement in waterpower projects and offers a step-by-step guide for proponents to build strong and collaborative relationships throughout the project lifecycle.
“Waterpower is embedded in the very fabric and identity of communities across this province,” said Paul Norris, President of the OWA. To date, more than two dozen municipalities and municipal organizations in Ontario have pledged their support for waterpower by becoming “Waterpower Champions”, and these new resources will help enable informed and willing hosts for new investments.”
In response to direction from the Ministry of Energy, Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is currently designing a series of procurements of non-emitting electricity resources, including waterpower. A key requirement for the success of any new project is the support of local municipalities. Importantly, an estimated seventy-five percent (75%) of investments in new waterpower projects and ninety percent (90%) of investments in sustaining these perpetual assets stay in Ontario, supporting local jobs and economies.
“Our public opinion polling consistently shows that the more people know about waterpower, the more they support it,” added Norris. “In addition to our positive and productive relationships with municipalities and their representative organizations as an industry, these tools will help to establish a solid foundation for engagement at a project level.”
There are 224 waterpower facilities in the province, supplying one-quarter (1/4) of Ontario’s electricity requirements. More than three dozen of these facilities have been in continuous operation for over a century, moderating electricity prices for ratepayers. Recent estimates indicate that 4000-5000 MW of new waterpower could be developed in the province – an increase of 50%.
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For more information on OWA, visit www.owa.ca.
Contact:
Paul Norris, President
Ontario Waterpower Association
Phone 705-741-9686 Email: pnorris@owa.ca