Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


FIT projects get grace period on domestic content rule

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Some green power projects under Ontario’s feed-in-tariff program will get a grace period for meeting more stringent domestic content requirements, Better Farming has learned.

That’s “great news,” says Len Jewitt, a Palmerston area poultry producer who plans to generate 130 kilowatts using solar generation systems on two unused barns.

In an interview earlier this morning, Elizabeth McDonald, president of the Canadian Solar Industry Association had flatly denied an extension was in the works. If there is, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) “would have to make a public announcement about it,” she said. “If they’re going to do it, there would be consultations. I would know.”

Minutes after the interview, McDonald called back, explaining she had just obtained a copy of a June 10 letter from JoAnne Butler, the Authority’s vice president of electricity resources, to one of the association’s members that says the current domestic content requirement will be extended by 120 days. The extension accommodates delays in construction and only applies to projects generating between 10 kW and 500 kW, referred to as “capacity allocation exempt,” McDonald said.

“If the OPA is going to make these changes, they should tell the whole industry,” she said. “I’m glad to see they’re responsive where the processes are holding people back, so that makes sense. On the other hand, this should have been on the OPA website.” 

Authority spokesperson Ben Chin says letters were sent to all of those directly affected by the change. “We typically don’t communicate to everybody under every category when we communicate one (administrative change),” he said. “This is a special group of people affected, mainly for administrative reasons.”

It applies only to capacity allocation exempt project applications submitted between Oct. 1, 2009 and June 4 with an accelerated timeline for opening based on their domestic content, he explained.

Chin said the adjustment is meant to offset the longer-than-anticipated time it took the authority to process the applications because of the tremendous response to the program.

“Frankly we got bowled over by the number of applications,” he said. A May 7 news release from the authority indicated that it had approved 694 contracts under the FIT program with about 200 of these scheduled to be in service within a year.

The Authority initially required that projects in the FIT program obtain 25 per cent of goods and services from Ontario-based content if they were wind-based or 50 per cent if solar-based. That amount was slated to increase to 50 and 60 per cent, respectively, in 2011. The FIT program applies to green power generation of more than 10 kW and offers qualifying projects a guaranteed pricing structure. Qualifying fuel sources include; renewable biomass, landfill gas, solar photovoltaic, water power and wind.

Jewitt said that he’s not entirely sure what impact the extension will have on his FIT project. “Our process is still in the works.” He said he’s hoping to meet this year’s domestic content requirements, “but you take a number and stand in a queue.”

The surge of interest in the program makes the queue long. “You need to be patient and let those people that are tracking the paperwork through do their due (diligence),” he said. BF
 

Current Issue

June/July 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Ontario crops respond to summer heat

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online

Canada’s Place in Global Food System Resilience

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Canada’s food system is facing serious pressure due to global supply chain issues, climate change, and rising food prices. According to a KPMG report, bold and united action is needed now to make Canada’s agriculture sector more resilient and self-reliant. With the global population... Read this article online

Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth

Monday, June 30, 2025

Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online

Cattle Stress Tool May Boost Fertility

Friday, June 27, 2025

Kansas State University researchers have developed a cool tool that may help reduce cattle stress and improve artificial insemination (AI) results. The idea came from animal science experts Nicholas Wege Dias and Sandy Johnson, who observed that cattle accustomed to their environment... Read this article online

Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost

Friday, June 27, 2025

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to strengthen shared community grazing pastures. This funding supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agriculture sector and help cattle farmers improve pasture quality, ensuring long-term sustainability and... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top