[Update: published in the Ottawa Sun Letters section on July 9, 2010]The McGuinty government's announcement that the feed-in tariff rate will be lowered for ground-based FIT installations is a move in the wrong direction. The program's goal is to increase the availability of clean, renewable energy in Ontario and the tariff was created to signal that Ontario is willing to buy clean power at $0.80 per kilowatt-hour - from any solar source.
Minister Duguid's decision to lower the tariff rate, only for ground based installations, because he thinks those businesses are making too much money shows a lack of vision for Ontario's clean energy sector. Electricity generated from a solar panel is the same whether that solar panel is on a roof or on a farmer's field. Both are clean and Ontario needs as much of it as we can generate. The Government should stay out of deciding how much profit is "too much" - shouldn't innovators be rewarded when they get it right?
If Ontario is going to move quickly to renewable energy sources we need to be consistent and reliable in our policies. Changing the tariff with no warning sends the wrong signal and lowers confidence that Ontario is serious about supporting this emerging industry.
Minister Duguid's decision to lower the tariff rate, only for ground based installations, because he thinks those businesses are making too much money shows a lack of vision for Ontario's clean energy sector. Electricity generated from a solar panel is the same whether that solar panel is on a roof or on a farmer's field. Both are clean and Ontario needs as much of it as we can generate. The Government should stay out of deciding how much profit is "too much" - shouldn't innovators be rewarded when they get it right?
If Ontario is going to move quickly to renewable energy sources we need to be consistent and reliable in our policies. Changing the tariff with no warning sends the wrong signal and lowers confidence that Ontario is serious about supporting this emerging industry.
