Canada - McGuinty Government Set To Double Achievements On Renewable Energy

Ontario is moving forward to add an additional 2,000 megawatts (MW) of green renewable power, Energy Minister Dwight Duncan announced today. The procurements that will flow from today's directive to the Ontario Power Authority will bring the amount of renewable energy acquired by the McGuinty government to 4,000 MW.

"We're building a clean and green energy future that supports a healthy electricity system and a healthy environment," Duncan said. "Since 2003, we have reached agreements that will generate over 2,000 megawatts of green, renewable power for Ontario families. Today, we're taking steps to double it."

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) will initiate consultations with First Nations and Métis communities, the renewable energy industry, and other stakeholders to establish timelines and to determine how the additional power will be procured. The OPA will commence the process on procuring the first 500 MW by the end of this year. All procurements under this directive will be for projects that are greater than 10 MW.

"This is great news for the renewable energy sector," said Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association. "Ontario is already one of the leading jurisdictions for wind power in Canada, and this will encourage additional investment in Ontario's clean and green energy future."

"Today's announcement will build on the positive momentum for investment in renewable energy Ontario has already created, and ensure that we continue to see increased investment in new renewable sources of electricity generation for Ontario" said Dave Butters, president of the Association of Power Producers of Ontario. "This is good news for the power sector, the economy and our climate."

Over the past four years, the McGuinty government has taken several steps to increase Ontario's electricity supply from green, renewable sources:

- Signed contracts for 18 medium to large-scale renewable energy projects across Ontario through two Requests for Proposal that will generate over 1,300 MW of clean renewable energy from wind, water, landfill gas and biogas. This includes increasing Ontario's existing renewable wind energy capacity 25-fold from 15 MW to over 415 MW – enough power for over 100,000 homes.
- Launched Ontario's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program – the most innovative program of its kind in North America. In the last seven months, over 100 contracts have been signed representing over 500 MW of distributed generation from renewable sources.
- Commenced construction on a new tunnel under the City of Niagara Falls using Big Becky - the world's largest tunnel boring machine. Once completed, the project will add an anticipated 200 MW to the grid, enough power for 160,000 homes.

Taken together, these renewable energy projects and initiatives are generating an investment of up to $4.5 billion in Ontario's economy.