Industry makes case for more Ontario capacity

CANADA: Ontario's wind industry is pushing for another 2GW of power purchase contract over four years and a long-term target of supplying 15% of the province's electricity demand from wind.

by Diane Bailey 19 September 2013

Ontario's parliament - province is ending Fit scheme following WTO ruling

Currently, Ontario government is in the process of reviewing its long-term energy plan (LTEP). In May, Canada lost an appeal at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the legality of local content requirements enshrined in Ontario's renewable energy feed-in tariff (FIT) programme.

Additionally, it is revamping its renewable energy policies in the wake of the recent cancellation of its feed-in tariff (Fit) program for large-scale projects.

The province's wind sector has been in limbo since the last wind energy Fit contracts were awarded in July 2011.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association says "it is imperative" the government commit to further development opportunities.

In a submission to the planning review, CanWEA said procuring another 2GW between 2014 and 2018 would allow the province to meet the 7.5GW target laid out in its current LTEP and help fill a supply gap expected to emerge in 2018.