OSEA Accomplishments in 2025
On April 15th, 2025, OSEA participated in the 10-Year Celebration of LumeSmart Earth Day! We had an exhibit booth and presented our OSEA member FN nano technology on one of the sessions.
In June of 2025 OSEA Engaged coop engineering students from the University of California Berkeley for an 8-week internship. They are learning about sustainable energy options and helping with OSEA website upgrades.
On June 9-10, 2025, OSEA attended the Retrofit Canada Conference at the Automotive Building in Toronto and was able to have the students attend the second day portion that allowed them to see the Expo area with all the exhibitors and also attend a number of Learning sessions.
OSEA attended the Ottawa Building Decarbonization Forum in April 2024. It had major presentations from across Canada and showed the move towards decarbonization with significant focus on the new technologies enabling this and the financing options supported by the Canada Infrastructure Bank loans for Deep Retrofits. The interest on the loans were tied to the amount of GHG that would be reduced.
On June 12th 2 OSEA members attended the Partners for Project Green Sustainability Storytelling at Centennial College. It had a number of renewable energy and sustainability providers at the event.
On June 24th OSEA exhibited at the Assistance Canada (PAC) Public Services and Procurement Canada – Ontario Region’s 2025 Small Business Information Expo at the federal government building on Yonge Street, Toronto. We had numerous visitors who were not aware of OSEA and some that are involved in energy issues. The government are planning an October event on CleanTech procurement that we are invited to participate in.
OSEA Accomplishments in 2024
The Board Chair and 2 OSEA members made presentations at The AfriCanada Economic Summit, on March 22, 2024. This was pivotal event, aiming to address Africa’s acute energy crisis through innovative solutions. Themed “Power Africa: Leveraging Canadian CleanTech and Renewable Energy Sources to Power African Establishments,” this summit was a concerted effort to transform the continent’s energy landscape, fostering sustainable development and economic growth.
In 2024 OSEA Engaged students from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Business Capstone research program who prepared a report on how to engage the next generation on OSEA objectives and increase membership with more social media presence. Other good ideas were provided in their Final Report.
On March 27, 2024 Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) and Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) signed an MOU to work together in 2024/2025 to foster collaboration and provide a partnership for both organizations to actively support the field of human resources in Canada’s electricity industry. By developing this relationship, EHRC and OSEA seek to enhance each organization’s effectiveness by leveraging the visibility, communications reach and access to audiences that a partnership can offer through the development and implementation of this MOU.
OSEA attended the Ottawa Building Decarbonization Forum in April 2024. It had major presentations from across Canada and showed the move towards decarbonization with significant focus on the new technologies enabling this and the financing options supported by the Canada Infrastructure Bank loans for Deep Retrofits. The interest on the loans were tied to the amount of GHG that would be reduced.
OSEA attended the Net-Zero Forum held in Toronto from May 14-15th, 2024, hosted by the Transition Accelerator. This unique event brought together leaders from various sectors to explore strategies for achieving net-zero emissions. Throughout the forum, participants had the opportunity to discuss: a) Insights into past transitions and global approaches to similar challenges, b) Practical framework for developing transition pathways, c) Expertise in using decision support tools for net-zero planning, d) Networking opportunities with leaders from diverse sectors. All the Net Zero efforts are consistent with the OSEA objectives of clean energy and energy efficiency.
On November 28th, 2024, OSEA held its annual Green Energy Doors Open event at Centennial College. It had a welcome video message from Minister of Energy and Electrification, Stephen Lecce with his announcement of the expanded energy efficiency and renewable energy programs coming in 2025. It had 3 keynote speakers and then 3 panels on the topics of decarbonization, green building technologies and government programs in support of sustainable energy projects. The 4 separate recordings are available on our You Tube Channel.
OSEA Accomplishments in 2023
March 2023. Our Board Chair, David Katz was a panelist on a March 2023 Family Enterprise Canada Sustainability event covering the ways these smaller family-owned business should pursue the sustainable energy options and show their customers that they are supportive of the Green Procurement efforts many companies and governments are requesting.
In 2023 OSEA joined the Green Building Initiative and then made a presentation on Smart Building Rating Programs Complimenting the ESG and Decarbonization Objectives at the GBI’s Toronto Sustainable Buildings & Decarbonization Seminar on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the Centre for Social Innovation @ Spadina Suite 101
In 2023- OSEA Board members attended several events including Toronto Board of Trade Clean Energy Budget talk by our federal Finance Minister, Sustainable Finance Symposium at Globe and Mail, Green Drinks, SpringFest and Lumesmart Earth Day.
On October 30th 2023 OSEA held its annual Green Energy Doors Open event titled Beyond Net Zero. It was an In-Person Symposium at Centennial College, and the recording is available on our You Tube Channel.
OSEA Accomplishments in 2022
May 25, 2022 OSEA had a webinar on Deep Energy Retrofit for Multi Residential Buildings. OSEA had a number of speakers covering all the issues like the challenges in Condo’s to get agreement and the available financing from SOFIAC as well as the incentives from Enbridge and SaveonEnergy for multi residential buildings. A recording is on our You Tube Channel.
2022 Re-branded the association with a new logo and graphics package
The OSEA Board Chair attended the Retrofit Canada conference in Montreal on June 13-14th 2022 and provided a discount code to all our members who wanted to attend.
OSEA Accomplishments in 2021
OSEA held its first Sustainable Finance Webinar in January, moderated by VCIB, with Springlane Capital, NRSTOR Inc., and Co-Power. The Webinar focused on different types of clean capital available from equity to debt.
OSEA established a strategic partnership with Public Service Canada (formerly Ontario Small Medium Enterprises or OSME) and held three separate webinar events: “Doing Business with Government Information Clinic” in June, “How to sell Cleantech to the Federal Government” in July, and “Myth Busting Federal Procurement” in August.
OSEA partnered with the World Trade Centre in Toronto in September to offer a virtual Cleantech Export Business Mission to Mexico.
OSEA held its 11th Green Energy Doors OpenTM event in October in partnership with Centennial College and sponsored by Enbridge and the Accelerator Centre. OSEA was pleased to have the Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Energy as its keynote speaker, with an expert Sustainability Panel composed of TD Bank, Alectra Utilities GRE&T Centre, Enbridge, and Power Advisory LLC. OSEA then held a Virtual Award for the Best in Class across 10 sustainability categories. OSEA had some 150 plus registrants for the event.
OSEA organized a first of its kind Greener Homes Grant Program Webinar in December, in partnership with NRCan, the Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors, an expert Energy Retrofit Expert Round Table featuring Fenestration Canada, Heating Refrigeration and Air Condition Institute Canada (HRAI), and the Siding and Window Distributors Association of Canada (SAWDAC).
On Advocacy, OSEA provided input into the Hydrogen Technology Roadmap, requested a Provincial engagement process to amend Regulation 98-12for Geothermal, and consulted the MOE on Virtual Net Metering and Community Net Metering.
OSEA is assisted by Willms & Shier LLP and Power Advisory LLC. Below is a bullet list of the activities that OSEA accomplished with the OEB in 2021:
- Participated in the Natural Gas Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) (EB-2020-0091) and advocated for enhanced planning activities to support Demand-Side Management (DSM) programs, integrating non-pipeline alternatives (NPAs), and consideration for future climate change policy impacts.
- Advocated adjustment to the annual supply plan for Enbridge (EB-2021-0004) to ensure gas supply from neighbouring jurisdictions accurately reflect Ontario’s carbon price regime in the future through the blind procurement.
- Active participation in the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) rate application for 2022-2026 payments for prescribed facilities (EB-2020-0290). OSEA was instrumental in deferring $40M of variance account payments related to Surplus Baseload Generation until further analysis is completed. The deferral was part of the largest settlement agreement in OEB history, where intervenors and OPG agreed to reduce funds by over $500M over the rate-application time-period.
- Activate participation in the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) fee application (EB-2020-0230). OSEA, through the settlement agreement and its actions, was able to secure commitment by IESO to release more planning data on the electricity sector to support local communities understand their electricity infrastructure capabilities and options to meet sustainability goals. In addition, OSEA was able to defer the implementation of a higher application fee until the impact on competition was assessed by the IESO; helping ensure small-scale generation is not unfairly harmed by the higher application fee.
- Prepared comments on the OEB Staff Discussion Paper on CDM Activities; advocating for enhanced planning approach to CDM activities, expanded definition of CDM and support for many of the Staff’s recommendations.
- Ongoing participation in the following procedures;
- Multi-year DSM program application from Enbridge (EB-2021-0002)
- Hydro One Joint Rate Application 2023-2027 (EB-2021-0110)
OSEA Accomplishments in 2020
OSEA in June partnered with the Government of Ontario, MAGNET Export Business Portal to hold a Green Energy Exports Webinar, with a leading Canadian renewable energy developer CPCS, Global Affairs Canada, Export Development Corp., and Business Development Canada, to learn about scaling up Green Tech for exports to Africa by showcasing Canadian success stories
OSEA held its 10th Green Energy Doors OpenTM event in September, in partnership with the Ontario Centres of Excellence (now Ontario Centre for Innovation) and had over 350 registrants. OSEA and OCE featured 10 strategic sustainable energy category winners.
OSEA partners with Resilient World Institute (RWI) to offer on-line energy training courses on Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Modelling, etc.
OSEA held its AGM in November, citing growth in membership and events.
OSEA participated in several Green Energy Drinks events (all virtual).
OSEA – OEB (Ontario Energy Board) Files Active in 2020
· Purpose: Enbridge applied for approval of its Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) proposal.
· Status: Enbridge, OEB Staff, and GEC/ED have submitted evidence. Interrogatories were due on January 12, 2021. A virtual technical conference was held on February 10, 2021, a virtual presentation day was held on February 19, 2021, and a virtual oral hearing was held on March 1-3, 2021.
· OSEA Involvement: OSEA is cost eligible and provided comments on the Draft Issues List on June 4, 2020. OSEA commented, among other things, that the scope of the IRP proceeding should include a review of what avoided cost and demand reduction calculations should be used in DSM technologies that impact peak demand and can be used in IRP. In the OEB’s decision on the Draft Issues List, the OEB agreed that avoided cost and demand reduction assumptions for gas DSM technologies should be considered in the IRP proceeding.
· Purpose: Enbridge applied for approval of its 2021 DSM Plan, since the Board did not conclude the Board’s DSM Framework proceeding in time. Enbridge requested that the Board approve its DSM Plan without a hearing. Environmental Defence responded and requested a hearing on the basis that Enbridge’s DSM Plan was not compliant with various government policies and directives.
· Status: Completed in 2020. The Board approved Enbridge’s 2021 DSM Plan for the EGD and Union rate zones. The Board approved rolling forward the approved DSM plans into 2021, approved the continuation of 2020 budgets for 2021 with no increases, and approved the continuation of performance scorecards, annual shareholder incentive structure, and cost-effectiveness screening tests. The Board awarded OSEA its costs.
· OSEA involvement: OSEA was cost eligible, and submitted interrogatories on March 16, 2020, and a written submission on June 12, 2020. OSEA supported Enbridge’s request to roll over the DSM program to 2021, but commented that:
o The Board should require Enbridge to provide a revised estimate for 2020 and forecast for 2021, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
o Enbridge should utilize flexible spending mechanisms within the DSMVA to fund shovel-ready projects and programs and focus 2021 programming on municipal energy plans, research on sustainable heating technologies, and benchmarking
o The Board should require Enbridge to report on customer participation numbers to evaluate the success of Enbridge Gas’ efforts to increase customer participation, and
o The Board should expedite the consultation on the Post-2020 DSM Framework.
· Purpose: The OEB commenced a related DER consultation on its technical requirements, in regard to the connection of DERs by electricity distributors.
· Status: The Board invited parties to comment on the issues for review and proposed solutions, and invited participation in a working group.
· OSEA involvement: OSEA was not cost eligible for this proceeding. OSEA commented on the Board’s rationale for the proceeding and commented that a clear enunciation of a preference for DERs with fundamental principles will expand the opportunities for DERs and enable local decision makers (utilities, municipalities, customers, service providers) to have the flexibility they require to maximize the value of DERs.
o OSEA attended working group meetings starting on December 4, 2019 and throughout 2020.
o Next steps:
§ OEB held a webinar on Jan 14, 2021 and invited comments on OEB Staff’s Proposal due Jan 25, 2021.
§ Comments in reply to other stakeholders’ comments were due February 4, 2021.
· Purpose: The Board initiated a consultation process to develop a post-2020 Demand Side Management (“DSM”) Framework for natural gas distributors.
· Status:
o Phase 1 Completed. Parties attended a stakeholder meeting and submitted comments to the Board. The Board stated that it will undertake a comprehensive review of the current 2015-2020 DSM framework for the purposes of establishing a new framework for the future. OSEA’s cost claim was submitted and approved for Phase 1.
o Phase 2: Marion attended a Stakeholder session on January 29, 2020. On December 1, 2020, the Board concluded the policy consultation process, and decided that the best approach for approving a post-2021 DSM plan is for the Board to consider it through an application process. The Board invited Enbridge to develop and file a comprehensive DSM plan application for DSM programs starting in 2022.
· OSEA involvement: OSEA submitted comments to the Board about:
o advocating for the introduction of Performance-Based Conservation in the next generation DSM framework,
o supporting that DSM province wide programs and geographically targeted DSM programs should be considered in infrastructure planning to inform system planning and provide expertise for DSM implementation, and
o advocating that natural gas plus DSM should be considered in energy infrastructure planning at the regional and local levels.
· Purpose: The Board commenced a consultation on utility remuneration and distributed energy resources and associated changes to the Board regulatory framework.
· Status: Parties participated in a Stakeholder session in Fall 2019. The Board invited comments on the Board’s preliminary proposals from participants. OSEA attended a stakeholder session on February 20, 2020. OSEA submitted comments on the Board Staff proposals on March 27, 2020.
· OSEA Involvement: OSEA was not cost eligible. OSEA participated in the stakeholder session. OSEA’s position is to advocate for sector transformation to a more sustainable energy economy, through the use of DERs. OSEA encourages utilities and other market participants to embrace innovation in their operations and the products they offer to consumers, including innovation relating to energy efficiency, storage, smart grid technology and other technologies that promote sustainability and renewable energy generation.
2019
An Ontario Energy Sector Leadership Forum: held at Willms & Shier LLP’s offices in Toronto with leading associations and experts in the energy and political arenas; key speakers included Power Advisory LLC and Sussex Strategy Group.
A Climate Change Resilience, Mitigation and Adaptation Symposium: held at the Ontario Ministry of Investment and Trade with leading experts from the Intact Centre, the Institute of Catastrophic Loss Prevention (ICLR) and the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority (TRCA)
A Green Exports to South East Asia Workshop: held at the Ontario Ministry of Investment and Trade with representation from the Ministry of Trade and Investment, The Export Development Corporation (EDC), The Business Development Corporation (BDC), Magnet Business Portal, and political representation from Indonesia, Thailand, Viet-Nam and the Philippines
The Green Energy Doors OpenTM 19 Sustainable Technology Showcase across Ontario-The 9th Annual GEDO TM event to showcase District Cooling, Geo-Exchange, Wind, Solar, Biomass and Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) as well as E-Vehicle technology. (Please go to Events for GEDO TM 19 to see more).
OSEA participated with a Trade Show Booth at the IESO First Nations Energy Symposium on November 4-5, 2019 at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. OSEA expects to build on this annual event to identify project and partnership opportunities to further sustainable energy deployment and capacity building in Ontario’s First Nations communities.
OSEA has been active as usual at the Ontario Energy Board (OEB)
2018
- OSEA continued to intervene to the Ontario Energy Board on behalf of its members and others seeking fair energy rates, greater access to the grid for green development and for introduction of DERs.
- Green Energy Doors Open-was hosted across Ontario with approximately 3,000 visitors to its sites showcasing green energy projects, energy efficiency results and EV technology.
2017
- OSEA continues to work with Willms & Shier LLP to intervene to the Ontario Energy Board on behalf of Green Energy developers and consumers seeking fair prices and access to the grid.
- Green Energy Doors Open – OSEA successfully brought approximately 10,000 visitors to Ontario, BC and Alberta, in partnership with BC’s Sustainable Energy Association and Distributed Energy Alberta as its strategic partners.
- OSEA held its Powering for Prosperity Gala Dinner Event on Feb. 8th 2017 where awards were given for most sustainable projects and most sustainable company in Ontario.
2016
- On-going Advocacy to the Ontario Energy Board via OSEA and Willms & Shier LLP.
- OSEA’s Board announces new Mission Statement and Goals for its membership.
- Powering for Prosperity – Successfully held the 8th Annual Gala Event with 250 Guests attending, and Awards for best Sustainable Project, Company etc.
- Engaged actively in the provinces Long-term Energy Plan consultation process and submitted our recommendations through submissions pre consultation as well as during the public consultation process. (View submissions)
- Received the Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award from the Biomass North Development Centre
2015
- Launched the Combined Energy Options Ontario initiative.
2014
- Championed the idea of a 20/20 Roadmap for Ontario
2012/13
- Engaged in the public consultation process around the provinces 2013 Long-term Energy Plan
2012
- Launched Green Energy Doors Open, allowing members of the public to meet the people and organizations leading the way to making Ontario a sustainable energy province
2011
- Launched the annual award ceremony Powering for Prosperity to celebrate the successes of our sector.
2010
- Created the Community Power Services Group (now separate aka Ontario Sustainability Services Inc.) to assist local community energy initiatives
- Tide’s Canada Top 10 award recipient.
2009
- Counter negative media rhetoric around Green Energy and Economy Act and FIT, defend the rights of communities to participate in the development of sustainable energy projects with ad campaigns, webinars, and policy work
2008
- Hosted five successful international sustainable exhibitions and conferences (World Wind 2008, Community Power 2009–11, All Energy 2014)
- Co-founded the Green Energy Act Alliance & developed the policy document which led to the Green Energy Act and Feed-in tariff (FIT) program
2007
- Launched the Community Power Fund to assist local Community Power generation initiatives with soft cost grants
2004
- Campaigned and developed the policy document which led to Ontario’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program
2002
- Organization for formed to advance a sustainable energy system in Ontario with community participation
- Facilitate dialogues between members and non-members on how to advance a sustainable energy system in Ontario