Ontario 2015 Renewable Energy Outlook: Regulatory And Policy Developments

The market for renewable power in Ontario will continue to be busy in 2015, in no small part because of the continuously evolving regulatory landscape. The year was kicked off by the merger of the Ontario Power Authority ("OPA") and the Independent Electricity System Operator ("IESO"). Sold as a move to reduce cost in the sector, the amalgamation may prove to be about more than just trimming bureaucratic headcount. Renewable project opponents are likely to face more disappointment this year, as many battles in 2014 were resolved in favour of project proponents. Solar developers enjoyed brief access to Chinese pricing for panels, but will now have to see how anti-dumping claims brought by domestic panel manufacturers are resolved. Ontario has committed to putting a price on carbon. If implemented, this may help bolster the case for renewables in favour of fossil-fueled generation. Having used the Ontario Power Authority's Feed-in Tariff ("FIT") to nurture a renewable