Privately generated renewable energy is still a relatively new development, and yet Ontario’s feed-in-tariff (FIT) program is already keeping electricians, engineers, roofers and other building tradespeople and professionals busy, says Daily Commercial News correspondent Saul Chernos. Calling FIT, a component of the province’s Green Energy Act, a 20-year investment and job-creation plan, Chernos notes the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has awarded more than 1,200 FIT contracts to date, over 50,000 direct and indirect clean energy jobs have been created ...

"I still believe the American people have not been adequately sold on the fact that we can create a zillion times more jobs by maximizing our solar and wind capacity." So says former U.S. President Bill Clinton in an exclusive interview for Reader's Digest, published in the January 2011 issue. Clinton notes that in a survey of the capacity of various major countries to develop solar and wind energy, the United States ranked second in wind and third in ...

Ontario is being touted as a “hot bed of solar development activities,” with growth in the industry in Canada listed as one of the “Top 10 Solar Trends for 2011.” Author Ucilia Wang of Earth2Tech calls the expansion in Ontario “explosive” in her article, which focuses on her predictions for solar initiatives around the globe. To read more, click here.

BurlingtonGreen will announce the development of one of Ontario’s first community renewable energy cooperatives at its November 23 Annual General Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Burlington Public Library. The new company, to be called BrightSky Power Community Solar Co-op, will enable people in Burlington to participate in and benefit from renewable energy solar power installations.

For more information, read the media release.

Energy Minister Brad Duguid announced today that CEPP grants have been awarded to 22 projects in development by individuals, non-profits, cooperatives and charities from across Ontario. 

A total investment of $1.7 million in CEPP grants will be leveraged into a total $105-million investment in community-based renewable energy projects, enabling these power projects to proceed. The CEPP grants represent 22 community projects totaling 34 MW of planned renewable power generation; this produces enough electricity each year to power more than 10,000 ...

'Provincial Feed in Tariffs Spurring Community Power: Ontario on Track for Most Community Power outside Denmark & Germany' reports FIT expert Paul Gipe of wind-works.org.

The Ontario Power Authority has signed feed-in tariff contracts for 384 MW of community-owned renewable energy projects in the province. When completed, Ontario will have the largest installed base of community-owned renewable generation in North America, surpassing community ownership of renewable generation in Minnesota. Nearly one-third of the capacity will be built by Ontario's ...

North American Clean Energy Magazine reports on community-owned wind power projects, including 'what makes a community project', the benefits of community wind versus non-local ownership, and challenges to the sector.

For the complete story, click here...

The debut issue of Green Power Magazine was unveiled at the office warming party for the Community Energy Partnerships Program and Community Power Fund on July 22nd.

Hosted by environmental lawyer and co-publisher of Green Power Magazine, David Donnelly, and MaRS CleanTech Practice Lead Advisor Tom Rand, the event featured special acknowledgment to cover stars, Community Power Fund Executive Director Deb Doncaster and former Ontario Minister of Energy George Smitherman, for their essential role in the development and launch of ...

Green Power Magazine - the first of its kind in Ontario - is launching on July 22, 2010 with the release of the Top 20 Movers and Shakers of the Green Energy Act (GEA). Green Power Magazine is a voice for people making new policies and projects for Ontario’s green energy future.  The cover of the premier issue features former Minister of Energy George Smitherman, and Community Power Fund Executive Director Deborah Doncaster.

Read more on the Green Power Magazine ...

Throughout the course of the day at the Community Power Finance Forum, 200 delegates consisting of community power project developers, funders and policy makers learned about finance, funding and project management information relevant to community-owned renewable power projects in Ontario, under the province’s Green Energy Act and the Feed in Tariff regime.

The well-attended event featured key international speakers with experience financing community power projects in European markets,  Ontario funders that support renewable power development in the province, and community ...