Toronto: Another large group of FIT projects have received provisional approval. The third phase of Capacity Allocation Exempt (CAE) projects, more than 700 in total, was announced by the Ministry of Energy on May 26.
A statement from the ministry said these would be associated with 2,000 new jobs: “Through Ontario’s Feed-in Tariff program, these new mid-size projects — including solar, biomass, biogas, water and wind — will power homes, businesses, hospitals and schools. That is enough electricity to power more than 16,000 homes or a community the size of Niagara-on-the-Lake each year. These projects will help attract more than $900 million in private-sector investment to the province. This builds on more than 1,200 Feed-in-Tariff projects announced so far, representing enough electricity each year to power over 700,000 homes.”
“Ontario’s Green Energy Act will create 50,000 clean energy jobs by the end of 2012. 13,000 jobs have already been created as a result of our plan,” the statement said.
Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy, noted that, “These projects will create more good jobs across Ontario and provide more new clean, reliable power to keep the lights for our children and grandchildren. Ontario is a global leader in clean energy and we are pleased that so many Ontarians share our vision for a modern, clean electricity system.”
Environmental Defense is a strong supporter of Ontario’s Green Energy Act and the FIT program. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defense, said, “Today’s announcement demonstrates the province’s commitment to renewable energy generation in Ontario, contributing to job growth, clean air and healthy communities.”
John Grimshaw, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Construction Council of Ontario, said, “These FIT announcements are important job creators for the construction trades. They have been life savers for many workers during the recession. They provide work for skilled trades people and apprenticeship opportunities for the next generation of construction workers.”
Ontario now has the third-largest solar capacity in North America, after California and New Jersey, and is home to the world’s largest operational solar photovoltaic farm, located in Sarnia. Since 2009, more than thirty businesses have announced they are setting up or expanding plants in Ontario to manufacture parts for the solar and wind industries.