The main pollutant emitted by the Portlands Gas Plant is nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is known to cause a range of harmful effects on the lungs, including inflamed airways, reduced lung function, and increased asthma attacks. For children, exposure to NO2 is a cause of asthma. The plant spews NO2 into the air we breathe almost around the clock, having run for 21 hours a day in the summer of 2023.

From eye watering wildfire smoke blanketing the city, to sweltering heat waves and flooding due to torrential rainfall, the effects of the climate emergency are felt here in Toronto. These unnatural disasters threaten our lives, cost us millions of dollars, and are caused primarily by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. The Portlands Gas Plant is already the largest single source of greenhouse gasses in Toronto, making it the city’s biggest sole contributor to the climate crisis.

Toronto City Council has already voted multiple times to phase out the Portlands Gas Plant and has also adopted the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy, its plan to get Toronto to net-zero by 2040. The continued operation of the Portlands Plant is not compatible with Council’s net-zero strategy.

Unfortunately Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce are prioritizing oil company profits rather than affordable, safe, renewable energy for Ontarians. Let them know you oppose their ramp up of gas and instead support renewable investments!

Despite an increase in global use of renewable energy, Ontario is building more expensive and harmful gas and nuclear plants. Instead, we could import surplus hydro-electricity from Quebec, and rapidly invest in new wind, solar, and storage projects that would provide reliable, safe, and more affordable electricity than gas. Offshore wind power from the great lakes has the potential to provide enough power to meet all of Ontario’s current electricity needs. Existing technology can replace all of Ontario’s gas plants with safe, renewable, and low-cost energy.

Despite the fact that per kWh gas is more expensive than renewable alternatives, the Ford government is building more gas plants in Ontario to get the province hooked on polluting and expensive gas for years to come. According to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), one-quarter of Ontario’s electricity supply in 2030 will be produced by burning fossil gas – up from 4% in 2017. Increased reliance on the Portlands Gas Plant means we pay more for electricity.