cktimes.ca Archives: HOY: RURAL ONTARIO WINS WITH SOLAR PROGRAM CHANGES
Originally posted on: Tuesday, August 17, 2010MERLIN—MPP Pat Hoy and the Liberal government’s Rural Caucus have helped area farmers keep the original 80.2 cents/kwh for ground-mounted solar panels, to be confirmed today by the Ontario Power Authority.
“It was a question of fairness and trust,” said Hoy, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex, and Vice-Chair of the Liberal government’s Rural Caucus. “A farmer’s word is his bond, and it was absolutely vital that we keep that trust and keep the price for all applications made prior to July 2 at the original 80.2cents/kwh, that so many had planned for and expected.”
“Changes announced today following a 30-day consultation on the popular microFIT program will ensure fairness to applicants and continue to encourage Chatham-Kent and Essex residents to participate in the growing clean energy economy,” said Hoy, adding “it’s also part of strengthening rural Ontario, giving farmers and others another option for income.”
“Area residents brought forward important information on a variety of cost inputs that resulted in an adjusted new, fair price for ground-mounted solar,” said Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. “We listened to the concerns and acted to strike a balance.”
Ontarians who applied prior to July 2, 2010 to feed solar power into the electricity grid will be eligible under the original pricing structure. A new pricing structure of 64.2 cents per kilowatt-hour will apply to eligible applicants moving forward on small ground-mounted projects. The roof-top solar price structure remains at 80.2 cents.
Hoy said that interest in the microFit solar program was historic, with over 19,000 applications. The new and fair price for ground-mounted solar projects will protect the sustainability of the program and provide a reasonable rate of return of 11 per cent over a 20-year period for participating Ontarians.
“This is a win-win for rural residents. These changes provide fairness for those who have applied to the existing program and clarity for those going forward. This is about bringing clean energy to Ontario at good value. It allows Ontarians to be part of the solution,” said Hoy.
§ Learn more about microFit at www.microfit.powerauthority.ca.
§ Learn more about how the McGuinty government is helping create 50,000 new jobs in our clean energy economy: www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/energy/gea.
