Co-op says solar rate changes will sink it Tuesday, July 6, 2010 by BETTER FARMING STAFFA Chatham solar power co-operative venture will likely collapse if the Ontario Power Authority adopts proposed changes in power generation payment rates for its micro feed-in-tariff program, says a co-operative spokesman.“From what we know today, we can’t build ground mounted installations at the rate being proposed,” says Jim Campbell, secretary of Agris Solar Co-op. The co-operative partnered with Spark Solar to pool panel earnings under the microFIT program and offers members a share of the annual surplus in exchange for a $20,000 investment. According to the co-operative’s website, it has 650 members. Most are farmers. Introduced late last year, the microFIT program offered 20-year contracts to homeowners, farmers, small businesses and institutions to buy power at 80.2 cents per kilowatt-hour from solar units generating 10 kilowatts or less. Last week, the province and the power authority announced a proposal to change the fee to 58.8 cents per kWh for ground-mounted solar systems. The original rate will still apply to roof top solar systems.Brad Duguid, provincial minister of energy and infrastructure, says the change in price corrects a loophole within the program for applicants to earn an “exorbitant” return on their investment. The authority and the province are seeking industry comment about the proposal this month.“The suggestion from Ontario Power Authority that farm families are going to receive an unreasonable return on their investment by investing in ground-mounted solar is just not consistent with the actual returns we see in our co-operative model,” says Campbell. “We are hopeful the government didn’t really intend to adversely affect farm families who are buying into this program.”Campbell says the co-operative’s numbers do not support Duguid’s contentions that capital costs are “fundamentally lower” for ground-mounted solar units compared to roof top units. He says the returns the co-operative would receive on individual units are the same as what farmers would receive on their own. The gain in buying power for the group is offset by “administrative costs,” he says.Campbell says he has received calls “all day long” from members who wonder how the rules can change after applications are filed. He says the co-operative does not object to the rates eventually going down as long as the change is planned for and happens over time.He says the co-operative will participate in the province’s consultation sessions. “Maybe the government has information on capital costs that is different from what we understand them to be today,” he says. “We may learn something.” BF Feds acknowledge AgriStability's flaws Sheep flock improvement program changes hands
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Poll Reveals Mixed Public Sentiment on BC Ostrich Cull Decision Thursday, October 2, 2025 Farms.com poll shows divided opinions among Canadian farmers on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull. A recent poll conducted on Farms.com's X account @OntAg aimed to capture Canadian farmers' views on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull in British... Read this article online
Effective Strategies for Corn Soybean and Wheat Thursday, October 2, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, effective crop residue management in corn, soybean, and wheat fields is key to profitability and long-term soil health. It begins at harvest, with combines and headers set correctly to size and spread residue evenly across the... Read this article online
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online