Nov 10
26
Unfortunately, instead of condemning it, they express an apparent enthusiasm for this state-ist, eco-religious economic boondoggle that has been thoroughly condemned in the pages of the Post and elsewhere for sound economic and scientific rationale.
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Financial Post – Nov. 23, 2010
Ontario raises the bar for clean energy
By Julius Melnitzer
With the enactment of its Clean Energy Act in May 2009, Ontario positioned itself as a world leader in renewable energy incentive programs. ”The legislation brings jobs to the province and makes energy conservation a way of life for Ontarians,” says Danielle Waldman of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP’s Toronto office.
Part of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan, the legislation establishes a feed-in tariff (FIT) that allows vendors to sell renewable energy to the provincial grid at guaranteed rates, creates a new streamlined approvals process for renewable energy projects, establishes domestic content requirements for wind and solar projects, and creates the Renewable Energy Facilitiation Office. It benefits solar photovoltaic, onshore and offshore wind, water power, biomass, landfill gas and biogas development. So far, the FIT program has attracted 700 developments generating 2,500 megawatts of power. “Measured by the overwhelming response to the Ontario call, the FIT program has been a huge success so far,” says Jason Kroft of Stikeman Elliott LLP’s Toronto office.
Unfortunately, the rest of the country is lagging behind. ”Nothing in Canada compares to the scope of Ontario’s undertaking,” Mr. Kroft says. About a year after the Ontario legislation became law, British Columbia introduced its own Clean Energy Act, but the legislation – which also contemplates a FIT program – is still at a consultative stage. ”The Ontario FIT program is broader in scope,” says Paul Cassidy of Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP’s Vancouver office. “For example, solar power is not part of the program in B.C. and wind probably won’t be included either. The current thinking appears to rule out cleantech that doesn’t really need government assistance.”