The City of Ottawa stands at a critical juncture for action on clean energy. Mayor Watson and City Council have an opportunity to initiate Ottawa’s clean energy transition with a strong Renewable Energy Strategy, but the window of opportunity for meaningful action is closing.
In May 2014, well before the last municipal election, the City of Ottawa promised to develop a clean energy strategy that would help Ottawa transition away from its dependence on fossil fuels by promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation. Three years later, the strategy is still focused on studies and planning, with almost no concrete action in sight. We need a real clean energy strategy - one that includes meaningful policy change recommendations and significant new investments. There's a serious risk that such a strategy will not be delivered during this term of council. That means a real strategy will only arrive after the next election, if at all!
This is a totally unnecessary delay given the amount of time that has already passed since Council first promised to prepare the strategy and the amount of work that has already gone into the process. We need Mayor Watson and City Council to step in and put the process back on track so that the Renewable Energy Strategy that staff presents to Council at the end of this year is a real clean energy strategy – not a plan to possibly develop and approve a strategy sometime in the future
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To read a more detailed analysis outlining the rationale for this campaign, click here.
Latest posts
Ecology Ottawa urges protection of Ottawans from Idling Pollution
Ottawa City Council's Environment and Climate Change and Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committees met today to discuss staff recommendations for amendments to the City's Idling Control By-law. Ecology Ottawa made a delegation, supporting the recommendations and adding a few of our own to better reduce our GHG emissions and Ottawans' health—especially that of our most vulnerable.
Stop Harmful Idling Emissions!
As part of their review of the Idling By-law, Ottawa City staff have issued new recommendations for the By-law. These recommendations come to a joint meeting of the Environment and Climate Change and the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committees this Thursday. Here’s what you need to know!
Ecology Ottawa delegates on Budget 2025 Directions: Where are the Strategic Priorities?
Ottawa Council's Finance and Corporate Services Committee considered the Directions for the City's 2025 budget this morning. Ecology Ottawa was there, calling out the Directions' failure to respond to the crises—climate, biodiversity, housing affordability, addictions—facing Ottawans, as well as their failure to incorporate any of the City's Strategic Priorities. You can watch our delegation or read it below.