Seminar expected bring successful solar users and those interested together to discuss the current shift from "feed-in tariff to self-consumption" solar

The political climate for solar energy shifts from bright to cloudy, but proponents of the ever-improving technology say it is always going to be right for the planet, good for business, and beneficial to the pocketbook.

Guelph Solar, a local solar system company, is hosting an upcoming seminar aimed at shining a bright light on solar opportunities and benefits.

Company owner Steve Dyck says that while Ontario’s microFIT (feed-in tariff) Program is scheduled to end next year, and the province has made recent announcements related to curtailing alternative energy purchases, there is a lot of potential for businesses and homeowners to adopt solar energy.

The Solar Success Seminar happens on Oct. 11 at Innovation Guelph (111 Farquhar St.) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are free and can be found, along with registration, at Eventbrite.

Guelph lawyer and solar investor Frank Valeriote, former Guelph member of Parliament, is among the presenters at the symposium, along with Jennifer Duggan, a homeowner who went solar, and Kithio Mwanzia, CEO of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, who is a believer in the economic benefits of solar.

Valeriote said he has been investing in solar and other energy efficiency measures for many years, having solar panels installed on properties he owns in the city, including the installation of over 40 panels on one building as part of the microFIT Program.

His investment, he said, gives him an eleven percent return.

Those currently signed on to the program are locked into 20-year contracts to sell energy back to the provincial power grid. Valeriote said government needs to continue to encourage investment in solar and other renewable energy.

“It’s saving the environment, but there is also a business case for it,” said Valeriote, speaking of investing in solar energy. “This is about saving our planet and creating jobs while we’re doing it.”

Tens of thousands of jobs have been created in countries like Germany in the solar industry in recent years, he said. But Canada has created far less. Our country, he said, has not yet fully embraced alternative energy and tapped into its potential.

Duggan’s family home sells solar energy back into the provincial grid through microFIT.

“I want to be a producer of energy and not just a consumer of it, and this is one way to do that,” said Duggan, who thinks it’s a shame that the program is ending.

“But I’m not really worried about those developments,” she added. “I think it’s a market that has ripples like everything else, and is far less volatile than oil and gas prices.”

Dyck said solar is an exciting industry to be a part of. There has been some leadership in Ontario in moving the industry forward. There is a transition taking place right now, he said, one that is moving from feed-in tariff to self-consumption.

“With the cost of solar equipment coming down, it’s to the point where generating power for your own home versus relying solely on the grid makes sense,” he said.

He added that there are still opportunities to get in on microFIT before it ends, but changes to the program have been unpredictable to date, and it is not entirely clear what those opportunities will look like.

The Solar Success Seminar, he said, revolves around solar success stories.

“We’re bringing together different people who have been involved in solar in some different directions,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to learn from some people who have installed solar. We’ll be looking at some of the financials involved, how to do it right, and what the future holds.”

Rami Aziz from RBC Wealth Management, will speak about the positive economics of investing in solar right now. Engineer Rob Blakeney, owner of Local Impact Design, will talk about the energy self-sufficiency of homes that incorporate solar.

Guelph Solar staff will be on hand to discuss new solar products and technology.