Item - 2021.IE26.18

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on December 15, 2021 without amendments and without debate.
  • This item was considered by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on December 2, 2021 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on December 15, 2021.

IE26.18 - Wastewater Energy Transfer Program

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted on Consent
Wards:
All

City Council Decision

City Council on December 15, 16 and 17, 2021, adopted the following:

 

1. City Council endorse facilitating the use of the City's wastewater infrastructure, right-of-way, and property where feasible to facilitate renewable thermal energy projects aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gases emissions and moving the City closer to achieving its net zero emissions goal.

 

2. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, and the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services, to establish a working group consisting of the Division Heads or their designates from the Environment and Energy, Toronto Water, Corporate Real Estate Management, Transportation Services, Engineering and Construction Services, Legal Services, Financial Planning and any other necessary Divisions, to develop an implementation plan for Part 1 above that includes, without limitation, post-screening application review process and procedures, design and technical standards, template agreements, real estate valuations, and project revenue allocations.

 

3. City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the second quarter of 2022 with details about the implementation plan for the Wastewater Energy Transfer Program and with recommendations for authority needed to launch the full program.

Background Information (Committee)

(November 17, 2021) Report and Attachment 1 from the Interim Director, Environment and Energy on Wastewater Energy Transfer Program
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-173428.pdf

Communications (Committee)

(December 1, 2021) E-mail from Tim Ellis, Board Member, Mimico Residents Association (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ie/comm/communicationfile-141722.pdf

IE26.18 - Wastewater Energy Transfer Program

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Committee Recommendations

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

 

1. City Council endorse facilitating the use of the City's wastewater infrastructure, right-of-way, and property where feasible to facilitate renewable thermal energy projects aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gases emissions and moving the City closer to achieving its net zero emissions goal.

 

2. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, and the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services, to establish a working group consisting of the Division Heads or their designates from the Environment and Energy, Toronto Water, Corporate Real Estate Management, Transportation Services, Engineering and Construction Services, Legal Services, Financial Planning and any other necessary Divisions, to develop an implementation plan for Part 1 above that includes, without limitation, post-screening application review process and procedures, design and technical standards, template agreements, real estate valuations, and project revenue allocations.

 

3. City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the second quarter of 2022 with details about the implementation plan for the Wastewater Energy Transfer Program and with recommendations for authority needed to launch the full program.

Decision Advice and Other Information

 

Infrastructure and Environment Committee considered items IE26.16 and IE26.18 together.

Origin

(November 17, 2021) Report from the Interim Director, Environment and Energy

Summary

This report proposes the launch in First Quarter of 2022 of the first stage of a new, city-wide evaluation framework for initial connection requests for potential Wastewater Energy Transfer projects, as was requested by Council in 2019.

 

Wastewater Energy Transfer projects involve a connection to City wastewater (sewer) infrastructure for the non-contact exchange of renewable thermal energy to displace fossil fuel use in buildings, which is Toronto's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Enabling Wastewater Energy Transfer projects is therefore a key part of implementing the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy.

 

Toronto's sanitary trunk sewer network is estimated to have the capacity to potentially support well over twenty Wastewater Energy Transfer projects. Once in operation, these projects would reduce approximately 200,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually while unlocking value for the City through the sale of thermal energy. 

 

An evaluation framework is necessary for timely processing of connection requests and to ensure projects do not negatively affect operation/integrity of Toronto Water infrastructure.              

 

Stage 1 - Launch First Quarter of 2022 for project intake to gauge interest, size/types of projects, and specific locations/timelines.

 

- Renewable energy developers/building owners visit a City webpage to undertake self-serve project screening and submit a preliminary application.


- Environment and Energy Division staff review the application for completeness so that Toronto Water staff can provide the applicant with information needed for preliminary design/business case.
 

Prior to launching Stage 2 in Second Quarter/Third Quarter of 2022, which would enable full applications to the program, staff will establish an efficient back-office process for post-screening detailed application review with other key Divisions, including: Toronto Water, Transportation Services, Engineering and Construction Services, Corporate Real Estate Management, and Legal Services.

Background Information

(November 17, 2021) Report and Attachment 1 from the Interim Director, Environment and Energy on Wastewater Energy Transfer Program
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-173428.pdf

Communications

(December 1, 2021) E-mail from Tim Ellis, Board Member, Mimico Residents Association (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2021/ie/comm/communicationfile-141722.pdf

Speakers

John Stephenson, Citizens Climate Lobby

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Carried)
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council