Canadian Premier Dalton McGuinty and Ontario Minister of Energy Donna Cansfied have announced a new policy for renewable energy projects up to 10MW in the province.
The government will use 20-year Standard Offer contracts with a fixed price for small renewable projects. C$0.11/kWh will be offered to producers of hydroelectric power, the same amount for wind and biomass. Similar incentives are also being offered for solar energy.
Contracts will be available to anyone, such as homeowners, small businesses and commercial energy producers, and are set to be introduced in June 2006.
The new programme hopes to enhance the use of renewable energy in the province, and it is hoped that 1000MW of renewable energy will be added to Ontario’s grid over the next ten years.