Canada’s solar industry asks for improvements to FiTs

  • The Green Energy Act Alliance and Shine Ontario Association hope to strengthen Ontario’s renewable energy policy .
    The Green Energy Act Alliance and Shine Ontario Association hope to strengthen Ontario’s renewable energy policy .

Following the Canadian government’s announcement to reduce FiT prices for new projects, The Green Energy Act Alliance and Shine Ontario Association have joined forces by releasing the Ontario Feed-in Tariff 2011 Review: More Jobs, Affordable, Clean Energy, and a Brighter Future for Ontario report. The groups represent Canada’s leading environmental and energy groups, as well as the key players in Canada’s solar industry. Following Canada's exit from the Kyoto Treaty, this will perhaps offer the solar industry a little hope.

The report calls for more aggressive targets for renewable energy in Ontario to put it on the same footing as other world leading jurisdictions like California and Germany. The purpose of the report is to promote the following:

  • Creating jobs and supporting manufacturing
  • Protecting rate payers and encouraging investment
  • Incorporate a process for price changes and for new technology
  • Expand and support renewable energy participation

“Ontario has shown a real commitment to protecting the environment through its world leading FiT program,” said Dr. Rick Smith, executive director of environmental defence. “It’s time to take the training wheels off this program to ensure safe and affordable renewable energy will power our province and economy into the future.”

Kerry Adler, president and CEO at SkyPower commented, “Higher solar targets provide industry with the certainty needed for sustained job creation and investment, as well as providing reliable electricity as Ontario shuts down dirty coal burning generation stations in coming years.”

"We are calling on Ontario to adopt aggressive targets for new renewable energy that will create a sustainable workforce while giving more Ontario communities the opportunity to develop, own and invest directly in green energy projects. Everyone in Ontario should have the opportunity to benefit from the FiT program," said Deborah Doncaster, executive director for Community Power Fund. "In particular, we are asking that 500MW is set-aside for Community and Aboriginal Power."

The report Ontario Feed-in Tariff 2011 Review: More Jobs, Affordable, Clean Energy, and a Brighter Future for Ontario can be found at environmentaldefence.ca.
 

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