Despite a pledge to become “carbon-free,” McMaster University is building four natural gas power generators on campus — a plan that's drawn a substantial backlash from the student body and attracted international condemnation.

The power project, which got its building permit last month, is slated to be up and running by the summer.

“They say they are the most ahead university in Canada in terms of climate initiatives, which I find to be a dubious claim,” said Cordelia McConnell, a third-year social-work student and a member of MacDivest, a student group pushing the university to divest from fossil fuels.

The group says the $31-million project is even worse than owning stock in oil companies, she said.

“This gas plant is literal investment in fossil fuel infrastructure,” said McConnell. “We need to invest in renewable energy.”

The Hamilton university’s gas plans are the latest flashpoint in a simmering struggle over the role of natural gas in the transition to a carbon-free economy. Proponents tout natural gas as fuel that produces less carbon emissions than coal, but critics say renewable energy technologies that produce no emissions at all have advanced to the point where they’re cheaper.

On Wednesday, MacDivest delivered a letter denouncing the plan to the university signed by 120 environmental organizations from around the world, including Greenpeace Canada, 350 NYC and Extinction Rebellion San Francisco.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28 March 2023

2023 Federal Budget expands support for clean technologies through a refundable up to 30 percent ITC, which will contribute to Canadian markets’ ability to maintain global competitiveness

Today’s Federal Budget, A Made in Canada Plan, builds upon the 30% Clean Technology ITC introduced in the 2022 Fall Economic Statement by introducing a 15% Clean Electricity ITC which expands eligibility to non-taxable entities. This initiative is introduced in tandem with a commitment to recapitalize the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREP), as well as additional ITCs for clean hydrogen and clean technology manufacturing. Taken together, these measures are a vital step to ensuring Canada’s energy storage market remains globally competitive throughout the ongoing energy transition and secures the necessary deployment of decarbonization technology to support Canada’s path to net-zero.

“The announcements in today’s Federal Budget related to Clean Technology ITCs & the SREP program are critical steps to ensure Canada’s energy storage sector keeps pace with the United States and the global market,” said Justin Rangooni, Executive Director of Energy Storage Canada. “Canada’s ability to meet its ambitious net-zero targets by decarbonizing its electricity grid is dependent on the flexibility and reliability that a diversity of energy storage technologies of varied durations can provide.”

“Our recent report, Energy Storage: A Key Pathway to Net-Zero in Canada, identifies a minimum of 8 to 12 gigawatts of energy storage is needed for Canada to reach its goal of a 2035 net-zero electricity grid,” said Rangooni. “Today’s announcements represent a definitive step in the right direction for Canada’s federal government, but it’s still a wide gap to close to meet the country’s goals. To that end, we look forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government, the provinces, and our members to make that a reality.”

March 28, 2023 – Amendments to Nova Scotia’s Electricity Act will open the door for more storage solutions for renewable electricity.

“We need to accelerate the use of battery storage in Nova Scotia to help us get off coal and meet our renewable electricity targets,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “These amendments encourage innovation and early adoption of battery technology in the province.”

Changes to the act will allow the department to issue requests for proposals for energy storage solutions, like large-scale batteries. Currently, only Nova Scotia Power is permitted to own such storage methods, says the department.

Other amendments will allow the department to issue contracts for “well-developed, innovative energy storage projects that can be implemented quickly”. These projects are to also help identify the best ways for using energy storage in the province.

“Nova Scotia’s target to phase out coal and supply 80% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030 is achievable, but only if the right amount of energy storage is in place well in advance of this deadline” said Justin Rangooni, executive director, Energy Storage Canada. “This new legislation and funding sends the right signal to industry to accelerate investment in their projects and partnerships, and to prepare them for commercial operation.”

The amendments support the addition of more renewables to the electricity system while reducing costs for ratepayers.

The government of Nova Scotia, Canada, has made amendments to the province’s Electricity Act with the view to accelerating the deployment of energy storage.

The amendments were introduced on Wednesday (22 March) and announced by Nova Scotia’s minister of natural resources and renewables, Tory Rushton. Under the changes, Rushton’s department will be able to direct utilities to hold competitive procurements for energy storage resources.

“We need to accelerate the use of battery storage in Nova Scotia to help us get off coal and meet our renewable electricity targets. These amendments encourage innovation and early adoption of battery technology in the province,” Rushton said.

The province still relies heavily on coal, with about half of its electricity coming from the fossil fuel, and is its single biggest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Its renewable electricity policy target meanwhile is 80% by 2030.

Vertically integrated energy company Nova Scotia Power is currently the sole entity permitted to own energy storage solutions like large-scale battery storage, with the amendments to the act enabling the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables to open up requests for proposals (RfPs) to others. Nova Scotia Power is privately owned by Emera Incorporated and regulated by the provincial government via the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

Today’s provincial budget tabled in the Nova Scotia Legislature for fiscal year 2023- 2024 commits funding to implement numerous clean energy initiatives, including the development of a strategy to issue proposals and contracts for grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS).

This funding follows yesterday’s introduction of Bill 264 by the Honourable Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, that will allow the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables to issue: “requests for proposals for energy storage solutions, like large-scale batteries;” and “contracts for well-developed, innovative energy storage projects that can be implemented quickly”

“Nova Scotia’s target to phase out coal and supply 80% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030 is achievable, but only if the right amount of energy storage is in place well in advance of this deadline” said Justin Rangooni, Executive Director, Energy Storage Canada. “This new legislation and funding sends the right signal to industry to accelerate investment in their projects and partnerships, and to prepare them for commercial operation. We applaud the government’s leadership and look forward to supporting the development and implementation of the province’s energy storage strategy.”