Communities Must Lead the Charge in Securing Our Energy Future

The ground is shifting beneath our feet. Trade partnerships we've relied on for decades are rewriting the rules, not just about who they'll work with, but how. Climate chaos unfolds in real time: forest fires rage across Canada while sudden deluges devastate communities with little warning. The world feels increasingly unpredictable.

Yet, amid this turbulence, one truth remains: businesses cannot survive without reliable and affordable energy. For generations, North Americans took this for granted. That era is ending.

The Energy Crunch Is Here

We are caught between an exciting opportunity and a genuine crisis. Energy demand is surging at unprecedented rates and shows no signs of slowing over the next 5, 10, or 25 years. Ontario electricity consumption has increased 4.9% from 2021 to 2024, and the trend is accelerating. Three forces are driving this spike: a declining focus on energy efficiency, the explosive growth of AI infrastructure that consumes electricity, and the widespread shift from fossil fuels to electrification across various industries.

Traditional energy utilities, built on century-old business models and operating practices, simply cannot scale fast enough to meet this pace of change.

Meanwhile, Canada is forging new trade relationships worldwide. These partners, particularly in Europe and Asia, are now moving beyond asking for carbon reporting. They're demanding proof of active reduction efforts. No action, no access to markets.

Why Waiting Is No Longer an Option

The question isn't whether Canada needs to adapt, but whether we'll move fast enough to stay competitive. Relying on traditional processes and waiting for others to solve this problem all but ensures we’ll be left behind. Our economic vitality depends on three things: maintaining a stable energy grid, keeping energy costs manageable, and reducing our carbon footprint to meet global market demands.

This is precisely why communities like Hamilton and the Town of Grimsby are breaking from convention. Rather than waiting for federal or provincial solutions, they're mobilizing their business communities to actively shape the energy transition. That shift is already happening. In Hamilton, the new HIPE Network is bringing manufacturers together, starting October 1st, for quarterly sessions focused on energy collaboration, shared data, and smarter planning. In Grimsby, the Town is preparing for a business-focused Energy Summit on November 13th while also promoting provincial incentives like IESO’s Save on Energy and Enbridge’s Small Business Upgrades. (IESO). These aren’t symbolic gestures, but clear signals that municipalities are done waiting. They’re moving now.

The Path Forward Demands Community Action

The energy challenges facing Canada won't be solved by utilities and governments alone. Communities must step up, convene their business leaders, and drive local solutions that aggregate into regional strength. When local businesses actively participate in energy planning, whether through efficiency initiatives, distributed generation, demand response programs, or innovative partnerships, they strengthen the entire grid and enhance their region's competitive advantage.

Over the coming month, I'll explore exactly how Hamilton and Grimsby are mobilizing their business communities to tackle these energy challenges head-on. These are more than case studies, blueprints for how Canadian communities can take ownership of their energy futures and ensure our businesses remain competitive on the global stage.

The question for every community is simple: Will you wait for someone else to secure your energy future, or will you mobilize your businesses to build it yourselves?

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