When the provincial initiative, MicroFIT was designed to encourage rural producers to invest in solar technologies the applications were through the roof. The micro-FIT program, for farmers, businesses and homeowners feeding 10 kilowatts or less into the power grid, has become most popular. 16,000 applicants were ready to install solar panels and sell their clean renewable energy for $0.802 kw/h, a great investment for both farmers and a step towards green energy in the province.
However, in the beginning of July and virtually out of the blue, the McGuinty government quietly announced that the program rates were going to drop to $0.58kw/h. A $0.22 drop in price, is a substantial difference and had many applications extremely upset. Farmers had remortgaged farms, invested savings and signed financing based on $0.802 kw/h understandably producers were upset. However, the strength of the rural public’s voice through farm organizations made it loud and clear to parliament members that this sudden change was inacceptable.
These Dual Axis tracker style solar panels are going to be scattered all over rural ontario due to the microFIT program
Energy and Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid said to the London Free Press “While solar isn’t intended to replace conventional energy sources, the province expects renewable energy sources can supplement conventional energy, especially during peak periods.”
This statement has rural communities wondering, then why would the government slash prices? Farmers get very little subsidies as it is, and if they can aid in assisting with green energy then the government should fully support the initiative.
Duguid noted that “the province is still committed to being a green-energy leader — an industry, he said, that’s attracting $16 billion in investment and 36,000 Ontario jobs.”
While the government has changed it’s attitude and is implementing a grandfather system in place for the 16,000 applicants prior to July 2, one has to wonder why this has been done so quietly…. Renewable energy is expensive to install, and requires high capital costs, and those who install these systems should be able to gain from their investments. On-farm power, or on-house power is no different in my mind than the government building a new nuclear plant…so let’s support renewable energy both rural and urban and make a change! The McGuinty government may have blown out the fire for the time being, however the embers are still burning hot.
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Filed under: Agriculture, Farming, Rural Tagged: | Agriculture, Farming, Green Energy, McGuinty, OPA, Renewable Energy, Solar Power
