The Green Energy Act Alliance and the Shine Ontario Association have released a report calling for more aggressive targets for renewable energy in Ontario in order to put the Canadian province on the same footing as other world-leading jurisdictions like California and Germany.
The report – ‘Ontario Feed-in Tariff 2011 Review: More Jobs, Affordable, Clean Energy, and a Brighter Future for Ontario’ – is being submitted in response to the government's two-year feed-in tariff (FIT) review process. Its goal is to ensure that new green jobs continue to be created, that Ontario residents be given more opportunities to participate in community renewable energy projects, and that FIT prices be reduced in 2012 for new projects to reflect the success of Ontario's burgeoning solar industry and the reduction in solar prices globally.
In addition, the report proposes that the government keep the integrity and critical components of the FIT and microFIT programs, while introducing a transparent and regular process to reduce FIT prices. Another target is to install the contracted but not yet built projects, better communicate the benefits of the FIT program and involve local communities.
Targets are also recommended to ensure that local residents and municipalities are given an opportunity to participate in local, community-owned projects.
‘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," says Deborah Doncaster, executive director of the Community Power Fund. "Everyone in Ontario should have the opportunity to benefit from the FIT program. In particular, we are asking that 500 MW be set aside for community and aboriginal power.’
