The new Transit Class EA process cuts out both of these approvals and is expected to make the process up to a year faster.

The committee that developed this new Transit Class EA was led by the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) and included representatives of the Ontario Ministries of the Environment, Public Infrastructure Renewal, and Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Regions of York and Waterloo, the Cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Hamilton, and the TTC. Together they developed changes to the current Municipal Class EA process that already governs three classes of municipal projects—roads, water, and wastewater—adding a section specific to transit. Details at toronto.ca/ttc

The first is a clean energy standard offer program – the first in North America according to Duncan. Small generators who meet the program criteria will be offered 20-year contracts for the power they produce by the Ontario Power Authority. Click here for details.

The province is also moving forward with the next phase of Ontario’s Combined Heat and Power initiative. The Ontario Power Authority will begin a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) following last year’s successful RFP. “We will streamline the application process to make this as easy as possible,” said the Minister. The initiative is meant to help businesses operate their buildings more efficiently.

“These programs will move us forward in our efforts to strengthen our electricity supply and help clean our air,” said Duncan.

Environment Minister Laurel Broten listed accomplishments such as the adoption of a LEED design standard for all new government buildings and a pilot green roofs program for all government buildings. Before Broten spoke, Toronto Mayor David Miller gave his own list of government accomplishments – primarily his support of Enwave’s Deep Lake Water Cooling project in Toronto. But nobody asked when we would see more projects of this kind, or what needs to happen to take these pilot projects from models to mainstream practice. In fact, the media seemed more interested in what kind of TV the ministers own.

One journalist asked Minister Duncan whether he owns an energy-efficient TV or a large flat screen – he owns a 42 inch flat screen. With time for only one more question, a woman in the crowd of reporters asked, “Minister Broten, what kind of TV do you have?”

The conference continues today with presentations from Canadian Urban Institute’s Brent Gilmour and Glenn Miller, representatives from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, BuildGreen Consulting, Canada Carbon Trust and others. There will also be a district energy and green design building workshop.