Ontario’s Green Energy Act Promises Jobs, Infrastructural Change

February 24, 2009

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Ontario’s recently proposed Green Energy Act could add as many as 50,000 jobs and help decrease energy use, said supporters of the Canadian provincial measure.

The measure was tabled Feb. 23 by the Ontario legislature.

Supporters said the act would mean job creation in construction, trucking and engineering, according to The Intelligencer.

The measure also would set province-wide standards on new wind turbines and solar farms, and where they can be located. Currently, that power lies with municipalities, meaning investors must navigate a patchwork of laws and codes.

According to a government press release, the measure would:

make it easier to bring renewable energy projects to life
foster a culture of conservation by assisting homeowners, government, schools and industrial employers to transition to lower energy use.
make energy efficiency a central tenet of Ontario’s building code structure
establish a streamlined approval process for renewable energy projects, coordinated by a Renewable Energy Facilitator
create a pricing system for renewable energy that will lock in rates and give investors confidence that they can recoup their investments.

Critics point to the fact the measure would erode the autonomy of counties and municipalities.

In 2007, Ontario proposed green license plates for low-emission vehicles.

Ontario has a history of partnering with private industry to spur cleantech. Last year, Wal-Mart and the Ontario government agreed to invest in and test new made-in-Ontario rooftop solar technology.

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Reader Comments

There could be no better investment in America than to invest in America becoming energy independent! We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources.Create cheap clean energy, new badly needed green jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. The cost of fuel effects every facet of consumer goods from production to shipping costs. After a brief reprieve gas is inching back up.OPEC will continue to cut production until they achieve their desired 80-100. per barrel.If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV’s instead had plug-in electric drive trainsthe amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota.There is a really good new book out by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now.

Sherry | February 24th, 2009

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