Let’s Create New Opportunities For Our Steel And Metals Industries By Making The Most Of Low-Cost Green Energy
News from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, a citizens group advocating for a greener, cleaner futre for all
Posted August 7th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Donald Trump is hitting Ontario with new tariffs on steel and copper – a direct threat to our province’s industries and jobs. But we don’t have to take it lying down.
One of the smartest ways to fight back? Stop holding back renewable energy.
With electricity demand growing due to population growth, AI, and the electrification of our homes, industries, and transportation systems, Ontario will need more power. By unleashing low-cost solar and wind power , Ontario can not only meet this rising demand — it can protect jobs in our own steel and metals sectors.
Here’s how:
Ontario-made steel can support the installation of solar on rooftops or over parking lots [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/transforming-toronto-with-solar/] and would lower everyone’s power bills.
- Building offshore wind farms in the Great Lakes [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wind.jpg] would create a double benefit: strong, steady, low-cost power [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/coins-1.jpg] and demand for locally-made turbine towers.
- Storing variable, renewable power has never been easier, but one of the best ways to do it is by coordinating with Quebec. Quebec power demand peaks on cold winter days – Ontario’s demand peaks on hot summer days. The two systems can support each other in a way that reduces costs for both and ensures a steady supply of reliable emissions-free power.
By strengthening our transmission system connections with Quebec [https://www.ieso.ca/sector-participants/ieso-news/2017/05/ontario-quebec-interconnection-capability—a-technical-review], we can also create demand for Ontario steel and copper.
Why is Doug Ford not seizing this opportunity to help our threatened steel and metals industries? Instead of boosting low-cost renewables, the Premier is betting on far-off, high-cost nuclear megaprojects [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/the-real-cost-of-new-nuclear/].
Meanwhile, practical, cost-saving projects — like this solar-powered grocery distribution centre near Lake Simcoe [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-loblaw-installing-massive-rooftop-solar-array-on-distribution-centre/] — are ready to go right now.
What Ontario needs now:
- A standard offer price for rooftop and parking lot solar projects that supply electricity to the grid;
- An end to the moratorium on offshore wind projects;
- and Stronger transmission connections with Quebec.
These three steps would immediately boost demand for Ontario steel and copper; strengthen our power grid; and cut energy bills and emissions [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/gas-graph-ON-1.jpg]. That’s a win-win-win we can’t afford to ignore.
Don’t let Ontario miss this moment. Call on Premier Ford, Energy Minister Lecce, Opposition Leaders and your MPP [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/steel/] to power up renewables and defend local jobs.
Send your message to provincial leaders here [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/steel/]
P.S. The worse thing Ontario can do is follow the United States off a cliff by ignoring the global shift to renewable energy [https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/green-energy-renewables-united-nations-report-1.7591214].
The best response to Trump’s tariffs is to power up Ontario’s renewable energy economy — creating jobs, cutting costs, and securing our future with clean, local power.
This is a far better option than Doug Ford’s plan to increase our reliance on American fracked gas [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/getting-ontario-out-of-the-american-gas-trap/] and American nuclear reactors that require enriched uranium fuel from the U.S. [https://www.cleanairalliance.org/ge-contract/] Let’s build our energy future in Ontario — not import it from the U.S.
Thanks for helping protect Ontario. Please pass this bulletin onto your friends and share on your social media feeds, including the Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/oncleanair.bsky.social/post/3lvqegxubws2i] post here: [https://bsky.app/profile/oncleanair.bsky.social] Forward https://ocaa.forwardtomyfriend.com/y-iykiildiyd-F39465D1-qtrtidd-l-g
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Ontario Clean Air Alliance
The Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA), established in 1997, successfully led the campaign to phase out the use of dirty coal power in Ontario. We are now working to move our province to a 100% renewable electricity system. This includes replacing our high-emission gas power plants and high-cost nuclear power stations with a combination of conservation, made-in-Ontario wind and solar power, and water power imports and storage from Quebec. Together these would lower our electricity bills and greenhouse gas pollution. For more info click on : CleanAirAlliance.org OntarioClimateAction.ca
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