Ontario announces 184 large-scale renewable energy projects

Apr 8, 2010 - EnergyCentral.com

More Ontario homes and businesses will soon be powered by green energy with the awarding of contract offers for almost 2,500 megawatts of renewable energy announced today by Ontario's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Brad Duguid. These projects, approved under the province's landmark Feed-in Tariff (FIT), are part of the largest green energy investment of its kind in Canadian history.

These projects are in addition to the 510 renewable energy contract offers totalling 112 megawatts (MW) approved last month.

"These projects are the latest accomplishments of the Green Energy Act which is making Ontario a place of destination for green energy development, manufacturing, and expertise." said Minister Duguid. "The investments generated by FIT will not only create green jobs, but will also build a coal-free legacy for future generations."

The 184 projects announced today will generate enough energy to power 600,000 homes. Located in communities across the province, the total 694 Feed-in Tariff (FIT) contract offers announced to date will create 20,000 direct and indirect green jobs and attract about $9 billion in private sector investment, as well as investment in new Ontario-based manufacturing.

"In six short months the Feed-in Tariff program has delivered strong results and has more than exceeded our expectations," said Ontario Power Authority CEO Colin Andersen.

Enabling community and aboriginal participation in renewable energy development is a key objective of the province's Green Energy Act. Thirty-six community and aboriginal projects will receive a first round FIT contract. These projects are located in communities throughout the province.

"I'm pleased to see aboriginal and local communities across Ontario as active participants in the green energy movement. Their leadership enhances Ontario's efforts to establish itself as a North American leader in renewable energy," said Minister Duguid.

Seventy-six of the approved projects are ground-mounted solar photovoltaic, 47 are on-shore wind and 46 are waterpower projects. There are also seven biogas, two biomass, four landfill gas, one roof top solar and one off-shore wind projects. Detailed information about the projects, including their locations, is available on the Ontario Power Authority's website at www.powerauthority.on.ca.

Significantly expanding the amount of renewable generation is a key part of the provincial government's strategy to address climate change by eliminating dirty coal-fired generation by the end of 2014. The FIT program's mandatory requirements for "made in Ontario" technologies and services also makes renewable generation a key part of the strategy to make the province North America's leader in green jobs and manufacturing.

Future transmission system expansion will open up capacity to accommodate more renewable projects. Projects that did not receive a first round FIT contract offer will now be put through what is called an Economic Connection Test (ECT) to identify transmission or distribution system expansion projects that support renewable generation and meet economic requirements. The first test will start in August/September. Renewable energy projects enabled by these expansions projects will be eligible for a FIT contract once work begins on the projects.

The Ontario Power Authority is responsible for ensuring a reliable, sustainable supply of electricity for Ontario. Its four key areas of focus are: planning the power system for the long term, leading and co-ordinating conservation initiatives across the province, ensuring development of needed generation resources, and supporting the continued evolution of the electricity sector.

Additional quotes related to today's announcement can be found on the Feed-in Tariff website.

To view a backgrounder on Ontario's Feed-in Tariff Program, go to http://files.newswire.ca/792/Apr_8.doc.

FIT Announcement Quotes

Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO)

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"The FIT was intended to spur renewable generation development and APPrO

is very pleased that the OPA working with Hydro One has been able to

award as many FIT contracts as announced today. The next big challenge is

to address the capacity constraints in our transmission system in order

to realize the full potential for renewable generation in Ontario."

Dave Butters

President & CEO

Association of Powers Producers of Ontario

Tel: 416-322-6549

Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA)

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"CanSIA and it members are overwhelmed by today's announcement which

underlines the commitment of the McGuinty government to be a global

leader in terms of renewable energy and it will cement Ontario's place as

a leading solar jurisdiction. We also want to acknowledge the hard work

of the Ontario Power Authority and its partners for actually doing all

the groundwork that has made today possible."

Elizabeth A. McDonald

President

Canadian Solar Industries Association

Tel: 1-613-736-9077

Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)

-----------------------------------------

"CanWEA applauds the government of Ontario and the Ontario Power

Authority on this significant first step in realizing the huge potential

under Ontario's Green Energy Act," said Robert Hornung, president of

CanWEA. "Capturing more of Ontario's wind energy resource will require a

continued commitment to open and fair access to the Feed in Tariff, as

well as accelerated investment in new transmission infrastructure."

Robert Hornung

President

Canadian Wind Energy Association

Tel: 1-800-922-6932

Chippewas of Georgina Island

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"Georgina Island First Nation is delighted that its proposed 20 megawatt

wind farm has received a feed-in-tariff (FIT) contract offer from the

Ontario Power Authority. The people of Georgina Island First Nation have

been working on this project for several years so it is particularly

gratifying to be among the initial group of sixteen First Nations

projects approved under the new Green Energy Act introduced by the

Ontario Government. We are proud to add renewable green energy generation

to our heritage of environmental responsibility."

Donna BigCanoe

Chief

Chippewas of Georgina Island

Tel: 1-705-437-1337

Community Power Fund

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"This is exciting news for Ontario's community power sector. Today's

announcement will allow Ontarians to directly share the financial returns

from renewable energy investments made in our province. Community power

projects encourage local ownership and result in more returns flowing

into the community."

Brent Kopperson

Chair

Community Power Fund

Tel: 416-977-3154

Durham College

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"The provincial government's Feed in Tariff program has proven to be an

excellent opportunity for Durham College to demonstrate to our students

through a living lab environment how we can produce clean energy at our

Whitby campus and then make it available for the grid," said Durham

College President Don Lovisa. "The first-hand demonstration of this

unique program also reinforces for our students the increasing

opportunities for careers in the clean-energy sector."

Don Lovisa

President

Durham College

Tel: 1-905-721-3300

Electricity Distributors Association (EDA)

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"Ontario's electricity distributors, in co-operation with the Ontario

Power Authority, are proud to be a part of the expansion of renewable

energy and supporting the development of sustainable communities in

Ontario. Distributors are playing a primary role in providing guidance

and assistance to those who want to engage and connect FIT and microFIT

projects to the power grid. With new opportunities under the Green Energy

Act some electricity distributors are now even spearheading new FIT

projects of their own within their service territories."

Charlie Macaluso

President and Chief Executive Officer

Electricity Distributors Association

Tel: 1-905-265-5300

Environmental Defence

---------------------

"Watch out Germany and Denmark, Ontario is poised to become a new world

leader in renewable energy. The contracts announced today position

Ontario to cash in on the green energy economy, generating new jobs and

encouraging investment in the province. Contracts to community and

aboriginal owned projects will ensure that Ontarians have an opportunity

to realize the financial benefits of the Green Energy and Green Economy

Act for decades to come."

Dr. Rick Smith

Executive Director

Environmental Defence

(member of the Green Energy Act Alliance)

Tel: 416-323-9521

Horizon Utilities

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"Thanks to the critical incentive provided through the Feed-In Tariff

program, Horizon Energy Solutions Incorporated will harness the sun from

the rooftops of the Golden Horseshoe to create Ontario's Solar

Sunbelt(TM). We'll help to generate a sustainable source of power with

cleaner air to breathe. Without the far-sighted policy of the government,

the commercial rollout of a sustainable green energy program and green

economy would remain a dream. The program provides both a ready market

and a fee structure that will nurture solar power to the point that it

will be commercially viable through economies of scale."

Max Cananzi

Chief Executive Officer

Horizon Holdings, Horizon Utilities, Horizon Energy Solutions

Incorporated

Tel: 1-905-522-9200

MaRS Discovery District

-----------------------

"The size of today's announcement shows the depth of interest the Green

Energy Act is creating in the renewable energy sector. It's another

example that the Act puts Ontario out front in North America when it

comes to renewable energy production. The Act's Feed-In Tariff is clearly

effective at moving capital into the sector, and generating lots of green

electrons."

Tom Rand

Practice Lead, Cleantech and Physical Science

Venture Group, MaRS

MaRS Discovery District

Tel: 416-673-8416

Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA)

---------------------------------------------

"This is great news for both the province and the planet. The high number

of contracts awarded to communities clearly indicates that people see the

opportunities to financially benefit from generating renewable energy,

while meeting their moral obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

and pollution. Communities that own the wind turbines, solar panels, or

hydro dams have more control over them and so are best able to address

any concerns. It is clear from the announcement today that there is wide-

spread acceptance of renewable energy, especially when local people are

involved."

Kristopher Stevens

Executive Director

Ontario Sustainable Energy Association

Tel: 416-977-4441

Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA)

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"Today's announcement is a modest yet important first step in realizing

Ontario's significant untapped waterpower potential", said Paul Norris,

President of the Ontario Waterpower Association. "Expediting enabling

transmission and reducing regulatory burden will be key to increasing the

contribution of flexible waterpower from hundreds to thousands of new

megawatts."

Paul Norris

President

Ontario Waterpower Association

Tel: 1-705-743-1500

The Pembina Institute

---------------------

"With the Green Energy and Economy Act, Ontario has distinguished itself

as a renewable energy leader, not only in Canada but in North America.

Today's announcement shows how quickly good policy leads to real

results."

Tim Weis

Director, Renewable Energy and Efficiency

The Pembina Institute

Tel: 416-644-1016

St. Lawrence College

--------------------

"St Lawrence College applauds the Ontario government's leadership in

advancing renewable energy. The Green Energy Act and the Feed-In- Tariff

(FIT) program have been particularly effective and clearly have been a

tremendous catalyst for business growth and development. St Lawrence is

the leading college in Ontario and, in fact, in Canada in renewable

energy programming. We have been able to respond quickly in meeting the

demand for skilled, knowledgeable workers, as the many related industries

continue to grow. Most certainly the stimulus and incentive that comes

from the FIT program has accelerated not only our curriculum development

and enrolment growth in our programs, but has led us to forge a number of

new partnerships and even research endeavours that complement our work in

the area of renewable energy. At present St Lawrence College offers 3

full-time programs in the area of renewable energy, which are Energy

Systems Engineering Technician & Technologist, and Wind Turbine

Technician and a Geothermal Engineering Technician program is currently

under development. We also offer a host of continuing education and

contract training courses. "Energy House", a renewable energy research

and demonstration facility, is a key part of our programming and

community outreach, and we are also leading a national project in solar

curriculum development. The government of Ontario's vision and leadership

is to be complimented, and as partners in prosperity for our province, St

Lawrence College also remains committed to developing the skilled work

force to advance and support these initiatives."

Chris Whitaker

President & CEO

St. Lawrence College

Tel: 1-613-544-5400

University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)

----------------------------------------------------

"The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) is a leader in

green energy research and innovation," said Richard Marceau, provost,

"our students and faculty fully appreciate the enormous benefits these

energy sources offer in promoting use of new technologies, research and

strategies to build a sustainable, reliable, cleaner supply of power for

our society. The FIT program is an excellent tool, well- positioned to

catalyze the generation of green energies in our province."

Richard Marceau

Provost

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Tel: 1-905-721-8668

University of Waterloo

----------------------

"Our partnership with the province and resulting investment in new

infrastructure through KIP, as well as continued enhancement of our

programs in sustainable and renewable energy, has positioned Waterloo and

the province as a central hub for green energy research. Our Waterloo

Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE), School of Environment,

Enterprise and Development (SEED), plus programs in environment and

resource studies and planning, are producing a new generation of

graduates and leaders in green energy."

Deep Saini

Dean of the Faculty of Environment

University of Waterloo

Tel: 1-519-888-4567

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