Presentation on the Presentation on the Green Energy Act Green Energy Act

for for South Simcoe South Simcoe MunicipalitiesMunicipalities

Susan Lloyd SwailSusan Lloyd Swail

M.E.S. Planning Candidate M.E.S. Planning Candidate Intern at Nottawasaga FuturesIntern at Nottawasaga Futures

Green Economy Transition Green Economy Transition CentreCentre

Ontario’s Green Ontario’s Green Energy ActEnergy ActThe Green Energy Act contributes to Ontario’s The Green Energy Act contributes to Ontario’s

Green Economic Future by: Green Economic Future by:

• Encouraging renewable energy projectsEncouraging renewable energy projects

• Building a strong green economy– 50,000 Building a strong green economy– 50,000 jobs jobs

• Promoting energy conservationPromoting energy conservation

• Improving our environment, by reducing air Improving our environment, by reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases (GHG’s) pollution and greenhouse gases (GHG’s) from fossil fuel energy production.from fossil fuel energy production.

Key AspectsKey Aspects

The Act:The Act:

• Streamlines Process– removing municipal Streamlines Process– removing municipal planning approvals- public participationplanning approvals- public participation

• Provides incentives through a Feed-in-Provides incentives through a Feed-in-Tariff program to encourage investment in Tariff program to encourage investment in renewable energy projectsrenewable energy projects

• Fosters Conservation and a Green Fosters Conservation and a Green EconomyEconomy

Streamlining the Streamlining the ProcessProcess• Planning Act requirements eliminated Planning Act requirements eliminated

for renewable energy projects and for renewable energy projects and associated connections. (building associated connections. (building permits still required, no public permits still required, no public meetings)meetings)

• Provincially led process for approvals Provincially led process for approvals Ministries of Environment and Natural Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources review applications, issue Resources review applications, issue decisions.decisions.

Streamlining cont’dStreamlining cont’d

• Right to ConnectRight to Connect

• Six month service guarantee (Hydro Six month service guarantee (Hydro One, Local Distribution Companies) to One, Local Distribution Companies) to facilitate timely connection of new facilitate timely connection of new renewable generation to the grid. renewable generation to the grid.

• Province-wide standards for the Province-wide standards for the location of renewable energy location of renewable energy projects. projects.

Municipal Role in Municipal Role in ProcessProcess

• Consultation with proponentConsultation with proponent

• Enforcing Ontario’s Building CodeEnforcing Ontario’s Building Code

• Providing information to residents, Providing information to residents, business. business.

Feed-in TariffFeed-in Tariff

Incentive based program to encourage Incentive based program to encourage investment in Renewable Energyinvestment in Renewable Energy

• 20 year guaranteed price contract with 20 year guaranteed price contract with Ontario Power Authority (OPA) Ontario Power Authority (OPA)

• Priority access to the grid through local Priority access to the grid through local distribution corporations (i.e. distribution corporations (i.e. Powerstream, Innisfil Hydro)Powerstream, Innisfil Hydro)

Types of Renewable Types of Renewable Energy Eligible Energy Eligible • Water Water • Solar Photovoltaic (PV)Solar Photovoltaic (PV)• WindWind• Biogas (anaerobic digestion) Biogas (anaerobic digestion) • Biomass (agricultural and forest Biomass (agricultural and forest

sources)sources)• Landfill gasLandfill gas

MicroFIT ProgramMicroFIT ProgramIncentives for small energy generation projectsIncentives for small energy generation projects

• Eligible projects are a renewable energy Eligible projects are a renewable energy facilities (solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, facilities (solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, waterpower and bio-energy (biogas, biomass, waterpower and bio-energy (biogas, biomass, landfill gas) landfill gas)

• Under 10 kW or less in size and located in Under 10 kW or less in size and located in Ontario Ontario

• Connected, directly or indirectly, to the Connected, directly or indirectly, to the distribution system distribution system

Supporting MicroFIT in Supporting MicroFIT in your communityyour community• Hold Green Energy information Hold Green Energy information

sessions – develop manualssessions – develop manuals• Consider installing projects on Consider installing projects on

municipal buildings municipal buildings

Community Power Community Power OpportunitiesOpportunities

• Supports Community Power - enabling Supports Community Power - enabling community ownership of renewable community ownership of renewable energy projects by citizens and co-ops.energy projects by citizens and co-ops.

• Local Distribution Companies and Local Distribution Companies and municipal corporations are able to invest municipal corporations are able to invest in (under 10MW) renewable energy in (under 10MW) renewable energy projects without separate corporation. projects without separate corporation.

Investing in the FutureInvesting in the FutureSmart GridSmart Grid

• Smart Grid will facilitate leading edge Smart Grid will facilitate leading edge renewable energy projects (e.g., electric renewable energy projects (e.g., electric cars) cars)

• Control and manage the distribution Control and manage the distribution system- exchange of information to system- exchange of information to provide time of use management and provide time of use management and maintain needed supplymaintain needed supply. .

Promoting Promoting Conservation Conservation • Mandatory home energy audits at the Mandatory home energy audits at the

time of sale unless the purchaser time of sale unless the purchaser waives his or her right to the auditwaives his or her right to the audit

• Conservation Demand Management Conservation Demand Management (CDM) Plans may be required by (CDM) Plans may be required by public sector and industrial facilitiespublic sector and industrial facilities

Job CreationJob Creation

Jobs are related to the level of investment Jobs are related to the level of investment in Green Energy projectsin Green Energy projects

• Innovation=Research and Development Innovation=Research and Development

• Renewable energy consultantsRenewable energy consultants

• Manufacturing - domestic content rulesManufacturing - domestic content rules

• Community Energy projects create local Community Energy projects create local employmentemployment

Opportunities for Opportunities for Municipalities Municipalities • Revenue opportunityRevenue opportunity

• Domestic content rules encourage investment in Domestic content rules encourage investment in Ontario – manufacturing and R & DOntario – manufacturing and R & D

• Job creation– Ontario leading with way (50,000 jobs)Job creation– Ontario leading with way (50,000 jobs)

• Reduce Energy consumption- Municipal sector - 2Reduce Energy consumption- Municipal sector - 2ndnd highest user in Ontariohighest user in Ontario

Possible Future Possible Future RequirementsRequirements

• Public reporting on energy use and GHG Public reporting on energy use and GHG emissions for all major government facilities emissions for all major government facilities

• Construction of energy efficient government Construction of energy efficient government and public sector facilities through and public sector facilities through standards (e.g., LEED, Ashray).standards (e.g., LEED, Ashray).

• Procurement policies Procurement policies

Possible future benefits Possible future benefits ….….

• Resources for Municipalities –Resources for Municipalities –establishing a provincial program to establishing a provincial program to ensure municipalities can recover ensure municipalities can recover certain costs associated with certain costs associated with renewable energy projects. renewable energy projects.

SummarySummaryIntent of Green Energy and Economy Act:Intent of Green Energy and Economy Act: • Encourages investment in renewable energyEncourages investment in renewable energy

• Ensures Ontario is a leader in Green EnergyEnsures Ontario is a leader in Green Energy

• Increases job opportunities in renewable Increases job opportunities in renewable energy sector and investment in R & D.energy sector and investment in R & D.

• Provides clean renewable energy, reduces Provides clean renewable energy, reduces greenhouse gases and air pollutiongreenhouse gases and air pollution

Intent of Green Energy and Economy Act:Intent of Green Energy and Economy Act: • Encourages investment in renewable energyEncourages investment in renewable energy

• Ensures Ontario is a leader in Green EnergyEnsures Ontario is a leader in Green Energy

• Increases job opportunities in renewable Increases job opportunities in renewable energy sector and investment in R & D.energy sector and investment in R & D.

• Provides clean renewable energy, reduces Provides clean renewable energy, reduces greenhouse gases and air pollutiongreenhouse gases and air pollution

Thank YouThank You