Welcome to this year’s City Building report.
It’s safe to say that energy is critical to almost every aspect of our daily lives. It’s also a certainty that our hunger for power will only increase as the population grows and technology demands more and more fuel.
As James Raiswell reports in this year’s feature story, Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator forecasts that electricity demand in the province will grow by 65 per cent by 2050. That’s the equivalent of adding four cities the size of Toronto to the province’s grid.
Much of this increased consumption is projected to come from the industrial sector, as new electric vehicle and supply chain facilities come online. Other major consumers include electrified transit projects, data centres, household electric vehicle adoption, and continued growth in the province’s housing supply.
It’s a compelling story, and it’s why we chose to focus this year on energy infrastructure. Managing the surge in demand will require new builds, innovative plans for energy generation, and repairs to existing infrastructure. And there are incredible projects happening in Ottawa and eastern Ontario. It’s intriguing to learn about the technologies and techniques being built and deployed. Whether hydro, nuclear, solar, wind or wastewater, the engineering of it all is fascinating.
As demand soars in the next 20 to 25 years, we’ll all see a far greater focus on energy generation, particularly as public policy steers Canada away from fossil fuels.
Energy may feel invisible in everyday life, but it doesn’t happen by accident. It’s planned, built and upgraded, and it’s quietly powering what comes next for the region.
Partner Profiles
How Merkley Supply helped build Ottawa’s school system from the ground up
City building projects must include lasting community benefits, says United Way East Ontario
Planning for growth: How Enbridge Gas helps Ottawa build reliably and affordably