Ontario Encourages Renewable Energy

The Premier made the announcement at Photowatt Technologies in Cambridge, joined by Ontario's Minister of Energy Donna Cansfield and world-renowned scientist Dr. David Suzuki. Until now, it was too costly and complex for small, renewable power producers — such as farmers, rural landowners, community groups, First Nations, business owners or municipalities — to sell their energy to the grid. Through Ontario's Standard Offer Program, the government will set a fixed price for small renewable energy projects. Under the plan, the Ontario Power Authority will purchase electricity produced by wind, biomass or small hydroelectric at a base price of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. The fixed price for solar will be 42 cents per kilowatt-hour. Over the next ten years, this will help add up to 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy to Ontario's electricity supply — enough to power 250,000 homes. It will help ease the strain on Ontario's electricity system, reduce air pollution, promote reliability, protect the environment and create new, high-skill jobs. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/21/c4345.html [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on March 24, 2006]

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