Renewable Energy Co-Operatives - Open For Business?

On July 11th, 2012 the Minister of Energy directed the Ontario Power Authority to continue with and to make modifications to the Feed-in-Tariff ("FIT") Program.

Why is this directive so important for Renewable Energy Co-Operatives ("RE Co-Ops")?

RE Co-Ops are one of the primary beneficiaries of the directive. The Minister directed that renewable energy projects that have a fifty percent (50%) ownership interest by a RE Co-Op where 50 or more members of the RE Co-Op are local property owners are first in line (with aboriginal groups) when allocating grid capacity. With respect to remaining projects, a renewable energy project where fifteen (15) to fifty percent (50%) of the project is owned by a RE Co-Op and where 50 or more members of the RE Co-Op live in the municipality where the project is located get 3 priority points for grid access. This is the most priority points for any category. Amended FIT Rules incorporating the foregoing are expected to be issued any