Ottawa: The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) March 11 applauded the Independent Electricity System Operator’s launch of a 565 MW renewable energy request for proposals, of which 300 MW will be dedicated to wind energy. The LRP program rules and contract were released by the IESO on March 10.
The initiative is the first competitive RFP under IESO’s Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) process designed to support Ontario’s announced goal of 10.7 GW of non-hydro renewable energy capacity by 2021.
“Ontario’s new competitive bidding process has attracted high quality project applicants who were pre-qualified through the LRP I RFQ process based on mandatory requirements focused on past development experience and financial capability,” said CanWEA President Robert Hornung. “We are confident that this process will demonstrate wind energy’s cost-competitiveness as a source of new electricity generation in Ontario.”
“An important part of the RFP process will be early and meaningful community engagement,” said Hornung. “Effective community engagement is fundamental to the success of wind energy projects and the wind industry values the right of individuals to have an important role in discussions about developments in their community.”
APPrO and other generator organizations made numerous submissions on the design of the LRP up to the date of finalization. For more information on that advocacy work, please contact Jake Brooks at APPrO.
For information on the LRP, please http://www.ieso.ca/Pages/Participate/Generation-Procurement/Large-Renewable-Procurement/default.aspx.