First-Ever Integrated Energy Plan Leverages Every Energy Resource to Protect Ontario
NEWS
June 12, 2025
BEAMSVILLE – Today, the Ontario government released Energy for Generations, the province's first-ever integrated energy plan - a comprehensive roadmap to meet future energy needs, support new housing and power the most competitive economy in the G7. This plan is an important part of the government's work to protect Ontario by bringing together electricity, natural gas, hydrogen and other energy sources under a single coordinated strategy to ensure the province has the affordable, secure, reliable and clean energy needed to build a more competitive, resilient, and self-reliant province.
"Ontario is taking concrete steps to ensure that our economy is powered by strong, self-reliant and competitive energy sources - particularly in the face of the unprecedented energy demands that our growing province is experiencing," said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
"This integrated energy plan, the first of its kind, is a generational step toward an energy future that will grow our economy and support families and businesses in Niagara and across Ontario, while remaining affordable, reliable and secure."
"At the turn of the century, our great grandparents had the vision to build Ontario's hydroelectric dams, later our grandparents started the build-out of Ontario's nuclear fleet, and today, that responsibility falls on us to build for the future," said Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.
"While every jurisdiction around us scrambles for affordable power, our government is thinking ahead, building for our children and grandchildren. Energy for Generations represents the ambition and long-term thinking necessary to deliver critical nation-building priorities that solidify Canada's self-reliance. As energy demand soars, our plan leverages 'Made-in-Ontario' to build affordable, clean, and always reliable power, built by and for Canadians."
Over the next twenty-five years, demand for electricity is forecast to increase by seventy-five percent, the equivalent to adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto to the grid. At the same time, there is continued demand for existing and emerging fuels that are critical for powering vehicles, heating our homes and supporting industry. To meet this demand, the province is making record investments in energy infrastructure that are helping protect workers in engineering, science, construction and other skilled trades by supporting economic growth and keeping workers on the job during a time of economic uncertainty.
At the same time, Energy for Generations will modernize the grid to support a smarter, more flexible system that can better integrate and manage new technologies, from net-new nuclear to advancing national energy corridors for clean energy, transmission and pipelines, while also strengthening access to reliable and affordable fuels that are critical to Ontario's industries, farmers and rural communities. Ontario's approach is anchored in four guiding principles that have been established over the past seven years and define the province's energy advantage:
- Affordability - Keeping energy costs low for families, businesses, and industry,
- Security - Building a self-reliant system with domestic infrastructure and supply,
- Reliability - Delivering consistent, 24/7 service to power every part of the province,
- Clean energy - Supporting economic growth, attracting investment while providing a North American solution to reduce emissions.
Energy for Generations advances a range of actions that leverage every energy resource and position the province for long-term success including:
- Meeting growing electricity demand by investing in energy efficiency, generation, storage and distribution, including competitive procurements and the largest nuclear buildout on the continent, while reaching more than ninety-nine percent zero-emissions electricity by 2050,
- Positioning Ontario as a global clean energy superpower by growing exports of Ontario-made electricity, nuclear technology, medical isotopes and engineering expertise to global markets, while supporting east-west grid connections across Canada,
- Leading on energy corridors and infrastructure by driving conversations on pipeline infrastructure and national energy corridors to support growth and energy security,
- Unlocking distributed energy resources by making it easier for individuals and businesses to generate, store and manage their own electricity through technologies like rooftop solar, batteries and smart thermostats,
- Planning smarter and faster by ending siloed energy planning by integrating electricity, fuels and new technologies, and enhancing planning and development to better meet fast-growing demand,
- Protecting access to fuels by releasing Ontario's first natural gas policy statement, safeguarding availability of natural gas and other fuels, chosen by customers for home heating, industry and agriculture.
Ontario will be doing this work in partnership with municipalities, business, industry and Indigenous communities. This supports the province's ongoing commitment to economic reconciliation including increasing funding for the Indigenous Energy Support Program to $25 million annually to help build long-term capacity, support equity partnerships and invest in more reliable solutions for First Nations.
Energy for Generations provides a coordinated, long-term approach to make sure Ontario has the reliable, affordable energy it needs to be energy secure and power economic growth. The government's integrated approach and record investments in energy infrastructure are also providing the certainty needed to for Indigenous communities, municipalities, businesses and industry partners to invest confidently in Ontario's future. With a clear path forward, the plan not only helps meet the demands of today but will help protect workers and the economy by keeping workers on the job and powering growth and opportunities for generations to come.
Quick Facts:
- Energy for Generations builds on the 2024 vision paper - Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power - that saw 136 submissions to the public consultation from Indigenous communities, municipalities, utilities, stakeholders and the public.
- The Affordable Energy Act, 2024, introduced by Minister Lecce in Fall 2024, amended the Electricity Act, 2024, and other legislation to establish a permanent legislative framework for integrated energy planning in Ontario.
- In addition to tripling the total amount of loan guarantees through the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program to $3 billion, the province is increasing funding for the Indigenous Energy Support Program by $10 million annually to help build long-term capacity, support Indigenous equity partnerships in energy projects and invest in more reliable and affordable energy solutions for First Nations communities.
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