The Ontario Sustainable Energy Association has announced the launch of a new tool to assist both community and commercial power project developers in identifying economic benefits for the community and province. Community support is an important factor in securing additional contract priority points under FIT 2.0.
The Community Support Resolution Tool is available exclusively to OSEA members and was developed in conjunction with the Conference Board of Canada and ClearSky Advisors. The tool identifies the economic impact of wind and solar project development on the local economy (i.e., incremental jobs and taxation).
The proposed FIT rules award Priority Points towards a FIT contract if the project has received the support of a community in the form of a Municipal Council Support Resolution or an Aboriginal Community Support Resolution.
OSEA members can a summary of their project’s economic indicators free of charge. For a minimal fee they can receive a full Community Support Resolution report that incorporates their economic impact data, model output appendices, a municipal resolution presentation template, and an OSEA endorsement.
Those interested in accessing the tool and membership are invited to contact Harry French, Director, Community Power Services Group at
In a related development, the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-op (TREC) recently released its "Community Power Tool No. 005: Community Power under FIT 2.0." The product "highlights major changes and how they could affect your co-op." It cna be found here:
http://trec.on.ca/services-resources/toolkit