Ontario: Emerging Renewable Leader December 23, 2010

Aerial tour of a large solar array near Sarnia, Ontario (42 degrees north latitude) Canada seems the unlikely location for the world’s largest solar photovoltaic array, but, for now, that is the case. Ontario has one of the most ambitious renewable energy plans in the world. The program is based on a “Feed in Tariff” model, similar to arrangements that have been successful in Europe. As a recent study pointed out, the cost to the average ratepayer is about equal to buying one Tim Horton Doughnut per month.



For small players, the program is designed to encourage renewable development by creating a market with a fixed, predictable price for the energy produced. According to the official description –

If you are a homeowner, farmer or small business owner, or if you manage an institution such as a school or place of worship, you have the opportunity to develop a very small or “micro” renewable electricity generation project – of 10 kilowatts (kW) or less in size – on your property. You’ll be paid for all the electricity you produce through the microFIT Program.

The program is also designed to fit the needs of larger developers, including wind, solar, water power, biomass, and landfill gas.



According to Energy Minister Brad Duguid:

In Ontario, we’re quickly shifting our energy sources away from sources like dirty coal, cleaning our air and providing healthier outcomes for ourselves and our kids,” he said. “This is a transition I think our generation can take a great deal of pride in.”

Duguid said the conversion to green energy will create 50,000 jobs in the province.

“That’s a lot of jobs, the next generation of jobs. The kind of jobs that will be around for a long, long time.”

Ontario is one of the cutting edge programs I’ll be tracking in coming months here and in the video series.