Dove TrovarciCanada has a broad range of options for new electricity generation but few that match wind energy’s affordability, economic development potential, environmental sustainability, diversification, reliability and rate base value.
In recent years, most incentives have been geared to utility scale generation and solar PV commercial and residential generation. Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec have implemented net metering polices.
In Ontario EWT 500kW turbines are allowed to operate under the net metering scheme. Wind energy projects bring direct investment to communities in the form of contracts for raw materials and infusion of dollars to local services and retail businesses. In Ontario, incentives exist for involving communities in financing and operation renewable energy projects.
Ontario net metering
Electricity consumers in Ontario who produce some of their own power from a renewable resource can take advantage of the “net metering” initiative. Net metering allows consumers to send excess electricity they generate from renewable resources to the distribution system for a credit toward your energy costs. In essence, it’s a “trade” of electricity thet supply against electricity you consume.
The credit can be carried forward for up to 12 months.
Eligibility criteria include, but are not limited to:
- The electricity must be generated primarily for own use;
- The electricity must be generated solely from a renewable resource (including wind);
- and the maximum capacity of the generation facility can’t be more than 500 kilowatts.
Ontario FiT scheme
- The FIT Program is open to projects with a rated electricity generating capacity greater than 10 kilowatts (kW) and generally up to 500 kW
- The FIT Program is available to Projects generally ≤ 500 kW
- FiT price s C$0.12/kWh
- FiT Adder of up to C$0.01 for community participation projects and C$0.015 for aboriginal participation projects.
