Wayne Gretzky has said that great hockey players skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.
I think the same can be said of energy system planning in Ontario -- and that's a good thing. A decade ago, we were dependent on dirty coal to meet our energy needs. Our system was unreliable and was in desperate need of renewal.
Since then, we have charted a new course. We have modernized our energy infrastructure and increased our supply of clean energy generation. By the end of 2014, Ontario will be the first jurisdiction in the world to completely replace dirty coal-fired generation with cleaner sources of power, like wind, solar, and bioenergy. This will have the same impact as taking seven million cars off the road. The result will be cleaner air, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and healthier Ontarians.
A modern system must be able to accommodate new, clean supply and deliver it reliably to consumers. It must also be able to take advantage of new technologies that help consumers better manage their energy use through the development of a smarter electricity grid.
The move toward a smart grid is like switching from a rotary phone to a smart phone; a smart grid allows for more customer control. It improves operation and flexibility in the power system. And it encourages the development of new and emerging technologies, like mobile charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Here in Ontario, we're not just talking about the smart grid -- we're actually building it.
Our province is already home to a number of companies that are making strides in the smart grid space. Innovation in energy storage is one of our particular strengths, for example, Electrovaya is becoming a world leader in lithium-ion battery manufacturing. We also have companies like Ecobee, Energate, and Powerwatch, which are creating products that will give consumers more control over their energy usage.
Siemens, through its Canadian subsidiary, has also become an active player in Ontario's smart grid market. The company is currently participating in a number of smart grid pilot projects in the province, and has made an offer to purchase the Ontario-based leader in intelligent utility switches and routers, RuggedCom.
To help support innovative Ontario-based projects and drive more job creation in the sector, we launched a smart grid program last spring. This will help companies and organizations design, test, and commercialize the next generation of smart grid solutions. We look forward to announcing the successful applicants in the near future.
A big part of smart grid is empowering consumers to better understand and manage their energy use. In Ontario, more than 4.7 million smart meters have already been installed in homes and small businesses. These devices are helping electric utilities pinpoint and respond more quickly to power outages, and they are supporting demand response programs to help Ontarians better control their usage.
Smart meters have made it possible for Ontario to launch time-of-use pricing. This means that the price we pay for electricity better reflects the cost of producing it at peak and off-peak times. For example, power is less expensive in the evenings and on weekends. So consumers have the option of shifting their energy usage so they can benefit from lower prices.
It's important to remember that the least expensive type of energy is the energy we don't use. That's why conservation is a key part of Ontario's plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a clean, reliable modern electricity system.
Through our Long-Term Energy Plan, Ontario has set a goal of reducing peak electricity demand by 7,100 MW by the year 2030. That is the equivalent of taking about 2.4 million homes off the grid. This may seem like a lot, but it's amazing how small actions can lead to big energy savings when we all do our part. Right now, we're challenging all Ontarians to join us as we countdown a conservation tip each day between Earth Hour (March 31) and Earth Day (April 22).
We have a very clear vision of our province's energy future. It is clean, modern, and reliable. It encourages a culture of conservation. It fosters innovation and the advancement of a smart grid. It will continue to create and support jobs for Ontario families, while ensuring we have the electricity we need to power our homes, schools, hospitals, and our economy.