Ontario’s Solar Revolution
I must say it feels pretty good to be a resident of Ontario (Canada) these days! Finally the provincial government is taking the kind of environmentally-responsible action that actually makes environmentalists sit up and take notice!
Starting in November (2006), all Ontario utility companies will be required to pay homeowners and businesses a set rate for any electricity they generate via alternative energy projects. The legislation will be especially good news for the solar crowd, since buyback rates will be set at 42 cents per kilowatt hour (significantly more than the 11-14.5 cents set for other alternative energy sources).
While this program will pay less than some comparable European programs (offering more than 60 cents per kilowatt hour), it is still the first of its kind in North America, and will hopefully inspire other governing bodies to pass similar legislation.
According to this great article in the Washington Post, the program has already generated a great deal of interest and activity. I can ONLY imagine how much of an impact it will have over the next few years.
Here are the key points of Ontario’s Standard Offer Contracts (as provided on the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association website):
- Wind energy tariff: $0.11/kWh
- Biomass tariff: $0.11/kWh, plus $0.0352/kWh for generation on peak (dispatchability bonus)
- Small hydro tariff: $0.11/kWh, plus $0.0352/kWh for generation on peak (dispatchability bonus)
- Solar photovoltaics (PV) tariff: $0.42/kWh
- Term of contracts: 20 years
- Project size limit: 10 MW (10,000 kW)
- Contracts should be available Fall 2006
- Inflation adjustment: 20% of inflation (based on Consumer Price Index) excluding Solar PV
- Contracts open to anyone generating electricity from qualifying renewable sources
- Intended to allow for a simplified interconnection process
- No cap or limit on the program; physically limited in different regions by how much capacity distribution lines can carry
- Existing systems from January 1, 2000 are eligible for contracts if they meet all other eligibility requirements
- Program review to occur every two years
Definitely has me thinking seriously about getting some solar panels!!
For a very interesting solar energy feature be sure to check out: SOLAR REVOLUTION: A SERIES FROM RADIO ONE 99.1 FM
Technorati Tags: solar power, solar energy, solar panels, standard offer contracts, alternative energy, renewable energy, ontario
Written by Bentley on October 17th, 2006 with
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