Ontario Gets FIT for Summer

Mar
23
2012
Ontario’s world class renewable energy policy (the FIT program) just got a whole lot stronger.
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Ontario’s world class renewable energy policy (the FIT program) just got a whole lot stronger.

First, let’s remember why this is important: We need to transition away from polluting energy sources like coal to clean, renewable ones like solar, wind and geothermal in order to stave off dangerous levels of global warming and protect our health and our children’s health.
 
In the first two year's of the program, Ontario stepped out in front as one of world leaders on renewable energy, but like all new things, there were a few bumps to smooth out. If the FIT program was going to prosper in the long run, it needed some careful adjustments to get it right. The Ontario government just finished its long awaited two-year review and it looks like they have listened to many of the public’s recommendations.
 
With a host of new changes announced this morning, the FIT program is now on much firmer ground, allowing Ontario to continue leading the continent in building clean, safe renewable electricity. Hopefully these changes will cool some of the overheated rhetoric, so we can all get on with fighting global warming and building a new green economy.
 
Here’s what was announced:
Cheaper renewable energy
The FIT program helps level the playing field between dirty sources of electricity like coal and clean sources like solar. The cost of doing this has so far has had a tiny impact on electricity rates (0.4cent/kw/hr according to the Environmental Commissioner), but it's important to keep prices as low as possible in the future too. Because of the big advances in solar and wind technologies as well as growing supply triggered by the FIT program, the cost to build these renewable energy projects has come down. This price decrease is one of the stated goals of the FIT so it only makes sense then that prices paid under the FIT would come down accordingly also. Across the board, FIT rates have now been reduced by 15-25%.  More cost competitive and affordable clean renewable energy is good for everyone.
 
Encourage community & Aboriginal ownership
Renewable energy projects owned at least in part by Aboriginal or Community groups will be given priority in connecting to the grid. This is an important signal that projects that provide the most benefits to local Ontario residents will be a priority.
 
Work with municipalities
Municipalities have at times voiced concern they felt left out of the FIT program. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) asked that this be addressed: "Changes to Ontario's FIT program should strengthen the municipal consultation process for green energy projects," said AMO President Gary McNamara. "The changes announced today should have the effect of gravitating green energy projects toward communities that support them." The goal is that new renewable energy projects will be more connected to local communities, providing greater financial benefits and control.
 
More ambitious renewable energy targets
Manufacturers like the ones who make solar panels were increasingly worried that low targets for renewable energy overall would mean demand for their products would dry up just as they were getting established. The targets were moved up to provide more certainty to hire more employees and grow the industry.  It's clear renewable can generate more of our electricity, so let’s hope that renewable energy targets are expanded in the near future
 
These and other changes will hopefully lead to far more wind, solar, bio-energy and small hydro projects being built across the province at a faster rate. With a greater emphasis on community and Aboriginal ownership, the future looks bright indeed. Getting this right means less asthma-causing smog, creating new green jobs and doing our part to tackle climate change to give our children the future they deserve.
 
 

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Mar
29
2012

Great post Adam!


Peter Rose says:

Good to hear about FIT continuing with larger goals.

Any word on the requirements of distribution companies. At OCAD University we were told one thing and then budgeted for it but measurement canada got involved, distribution companies changed the rules and now we have a project that is stalled because of the metering requirements.

I've heard not only OCAD University has this problem but it's happening at the University of Toronto and other Ontario Universities awarded a standard offer before measurement Canada made a ruling on the accuracy of meters than later retracted it.

Is there any way to put pressure on distribution companies such as Toronto Hydro which require expensive and unnecessary metering? On my worse days I think it's a play by Toronto Hydro to have Universities undertake deferred maintenance for their ailing systems.

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Mar
29
2012

Ontario Gets FIT For Summer


Tom Chatterton says:

Environmental Defence remains dedicated to the "no restrictions" policy in locating wind turbines. E.D.continues to promote an "any time anywhere" approval for turbine placement in spite of many within the environmental community (eg. Ontario Nature) who insist that restrictions be placed on siting (eg. major migration routes,IBA's, Ramsar wetlands, ANSI's etc.). This rigid adherence to such a policy greatly reduces the support of the public and E.D. donors such as myself. You really should reconsider your inflexible and might I say illogical position.

reply to this comment
May
11
2012

FIT summer


Paul Kuster says:

Where is the outrage concerning Bill 55 that was buried in the Budget document? Where is the concern over the placement of wind turbine on the Bruce Peninsula that is recognized as a world UNESCO site? Please square this myoptic circle you find yourself in. Your credibility will be heavily scrutinized.

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