Renewable Energy Twice-as-Nice in Ontario

Queen’s Park, Ontario [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Homeowners in Ontario got two more reasons from the government to invest in renewable energy projects. Energy Minister Dwight Duncan announced that the McGuinty government is extending the existing retail-sales tax rebate for renewable energy systems, and has given the go-ahead to ten projects that will provide enough power for over 100,000 homes.

“Helping homeowners to pursue sustainable energy solutions also contributes to a sustainable and diverse electricity sector, which helps build a strong and prosperous economy and provides a quality of life that is second to none,” said Duncan. Retail-sales tax rebates apply to wind energy, micro hydro-electric and geothermal energy systems that are installed in residential premises after March 27, 2003 and before November 26, 2007. The sales tax changes are part of the 2004 Budget Measures Act, which was introduced by Finance Minister Greg Sorbara. The CAD 700 million (US $593.2 million) in energy projects include waterpower and landfill gas projects as well as five new wind farms. Each project is a result of the province’s request for proposals seeking approximately 300 MW of new renewable energy sources. Approved projects are: a 23 MW hydroelectric partnership at Umbata Falls, an 8 MW Glen Miller hydroelectric, a 99 MW Erie Shores Wind Farm, a 99 MW windfarm in Prince Township, a 67.5 MW Melancthon Grey Wind project in Shelburne, a 49.5 MW Blue Highlands wind farm in the Blue Mountains, a 39.6 MW Kingsbridge wind power project in Goderich, a 5 MW landfill gas generating station in Ottowa, and a 2.5 MW landfill gas generating station in Guelph. There is one more municiple project that wasn’t annouced because it is pending approval by the local council where the project is proposed. “The ten new energy projects provide 395 megawatts of clean, renewable energy, which will reduce our dependence on dirty coal-fired plants and enhance air quality throughout the province,” Duncan said. Both the rebate tax and the renewable energy projects will help to meet the government’s commitment to provide five per cent, or 1,350 MW, of generating capacity through renewable sources by 2007, and ten per cent by 2010.