1. Green Energy Politics in Canada: Comparing Electricity Policies in BC and Ontario.
- Author
-
Hoberg, George and Rowlands, Ian H.
- Subjects
- *
ELECTRICITY , *ENERGY industries , *ECONOMIC policy - Abstract
As part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote economic development, many jurisdictions are reforming their electricity sectors with new policies designed to promote clean energy In Canada, the two most active jurisdictions in this regard are Ontario and British Columbia. Both provinces embarked on aggressive sustainable energy (especially electricity) policy initiatives in the 2000s that have become intensely politicized. This paper will compare these two provincial policies to develop insights into Canadian provincial politics on significant environmental and nature resource issues and energy policy dynamics more generally. For each province, we briefly describe the electricity system and how it is governed in terms of relations between public and private operators, the role of regulatory commissions and their relationship to the parliamentary system in place. We then describe and compare the policy shifts during the 2000s and early 2010s, focusing on efforts to promote renewable electricity and the policy instruments used to do so. We also address the dynamics of the political backlash that occurred in both provinces, and how the party in power responded to those criticisms. The main purpose of this paper is to reveal the similarities and differences in the two provinces' energy policies, but we will also offer some explanations for those patterns. The institutional structure of energy governance in Canada gives cabinet governments a significant amount of latitude to enact and implement ambitious policies. The particular manifestation of governance structures, policy objectives and policy instruments will vary depending on factors specific to the provincial context. The increased costs of low-carbon energy policies are proving to be a significant political issue, but the extent to which they will frustrate the achievement of larger policy objectives is not yet clear. In both provinces, highly ambitious clean energy policies have experienced considerable implementation challenges and political resistance. Despite the adjustments that have been made to address these difficulties, the fundamentals of the policy shifts are still in place. These cases reveal that when motivated, leader-centered parliamentary governments can create meaningful policy change to promote energy sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012