SOLAR PROJECTS GO TO WOOLWICH COUNCIL

Yesterday's Elmira Independent carrys this story: "Solar projects seek local support". Two business people spoke to Woolwich Council earlier this week about new rules concerning the Province's FIT or Feed in Tarrif program. Until now companies or individuals seeking to produce renewable electricity would apply directly through the FIT program to be able to feed their excess electricity into the power grid and receive compensation. Now the OPA or Ontario Power Authority have tied in their application forms via a points system to local municipal councils. Apparently the OPA believe this will prioritize energy projects coming to them as prior municipal council approval will add major points to the applications.

I must say that I find this a little odd. The two business persons namely Derek Satnik and Melissa Clark who presented at Council also were not happy with this new system. Their message was that it added a layer of bureaucracy and hoop jumping to the process and was onerous for both local councils and the businesses involved. To my wee mind it almost seems as if the province and the OPA are trying to spread the responsibility (read blame) if something goes wrong. Heaven forbid that any private entrepreneur would ever try to take advantage of any government program but if it happened the OPA could point the finger, after the fact, and say well the local municipality gave their approval first.