The government of Ontario has made it harder for the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to cancel renewable energy contracts. The change was announced Tuesday by the office of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Developers who are able to demonstrate a completed domestic-content plan and a manufacturing equipment agreement will now be able to request a waiver of the OPA's termination rights. Projects will still be required to submit a financing plan and connection impact assessment and to obtain all regulatory approvals before proceeding to the construction stage.
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak has vowed to cancel the province's green energy incentives if he is elected premier. More than 2,000 midsize and large-scale feed-in-tariff projects have been awarded contracts, according to McGuinty's office. In addition, more than 30 businesses have announced since 2009 that they are setting up or expanding plants in Ontario to manufacture parts for the solar and wind industries since 2009.
