Ontario introduces renewable energy act

Ontario is already the Canadian leader in wind energy, producing enough electricity to power more than 300,000 homes. But the region wants to become a North American leader in renewable energy and has introduced a Green Energy Act to create 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in the new green economy.

The components of the Green Act include a feed-In-Tariff program, which allows individuals and companies to sell renewable energy into the grid at set rates; domestic content requirements, which would ensure at least 25 per cent of wind projects and 50 per cent of solar projects be produced in Ontario; a streamlined approvals process and a service guarantee to bring developers greater certainty, regulations for setting wind turbines certain distances from houses, roadways and property lines; and a new Ontario Renewable Energy Facilitation Office, described as a one-stop shop to help renewable energy projects get off the ground faster.

The province hopes that the new regulations will give provide more clarity to companies, boost investor confidence and help Ontario achieve its goal of eliminating coal-fired power by 2014. Investments in new renewable energy projects already in place or under construction in the region since 2003 exceed $4 billion.

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