Abitibi River – Twin Falls GS
The ERO proposal frames hydroelectricity as a clean energy source that will help Ontario “harness its clean energy advantage.” This is misleading and inconsistent with current science. Hydropower reservoirs—especially those in temperate and boreal regions—are now recognized as significant emitters of methane, a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 84 to 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.[i]
The promotion of hydropower as “clean,” “renewable,” “zero-carbon,” and “non-emitting” is a common term used by governments and the waterpower industry to greenwash their dirty secret during this growing climate crisis.
[i] IPCC. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Cambridge University Press; 2021. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1