Wind Energy

Renewable energy projects for 2,612 MW in Ontario

The Canadian province of Ontario approved 184 large scale renewable energy projects, for a total of 2,500 MW. The latter was announced by Ontario’s Minister of Energy and infrastructure, Brad Duguid, who said that this is one of the largest clean energy investments in Canadian history.

“These projects are the latest accomplishments of the Green Energy Act which is making Ontario a place of destination for green energy development, manufacturing, and expertise.” said Minister Duguid. “The investments generated by FIT will not only create green jobs, but will also build a coal-free legacy for future generations.”

The 184 projects announced will generate enough energy to power 600,000 homes. Located in communities across the province, the total 694 Feed-in Tariff (FIT) contract offers announced to date will create 20,000 direct and indirect green jobs and attract about $9 billion in private sector investment, as well as investment in new Ontario-based manufacturing.

”I’m pleased to see aboriginal and local communities across Ontario as active participants in the green energy movement. Their leadership enhances Ontario’s efforts to establish itself as a North American leader in renewable energy,” said Minister Duguid.

Significantly expanding the amount of renewable generation is a key part of the provincial government’s strategy to address climate change by eliminating dirty coal-fired generation by the end of 2014. The FIT program’s mandatory requirements for “made in Ontario” technologies and services also makes renewable generation a key part of the strategy to make the province North America’s leader in green jobs and manufacturing.

The contracts were approved under the feed-in tariff that Ontario launched in late 2009 as part of the Green Energy Act, which aims at eliminating energy production from coal in Ontario by 2014.

The 184 new projects are divided as follows: 77 solar power, 48 wind energy (one offshore wind farm), 46 hydro, 11 biomass and 2 biogas. These projects add to 510 small-scale (totalizing 112 MW) ones approved last March under the same feed-in tariff.

It is estimated that the overall 694 approved projects will meet the electricity demand of 600,000 homes, will create 20,000 new jobs and will channel private investment for over $ 9 billion (6.7 billion euros).

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) applauds the Ontario government for recognizing the significant contribution wind power can make to Ontario’s green energy supply as well as its economy and job base. With 48 new wind turbines projects awarded – representing more than 1,500 MW of new generating capacity – this represents one of the largest single investments in wind energy in Canada’s history.

www.powerauthority.on.ca

www.enelgreenpower.com

www.canwea.ca