CanSIA Note to members – re: microFIT announcement
CanSIA Note to members – re: microFIT announcement
Fellow solar colleagues,
A mere six weeks ago, our industry was threatened by announced changes to the Ontario Power Authority microFIT program and I am extremely pleased with the direction the government has taken today to rectify some of the issues surrounding the microFIT program.
CanSIA members, the staff and your board are also thrilled by the teamwork and collaboration among the membership which empowered our organization to remain calm, stay focused and keep a positive, productive discussion moving forward during a period of high uncertainty. Thank you to every one of our members who spoke up during our microFIT working group calls and for providing accurate data and input that led to our very well received submittal filing.
The creation of an OPA microFIT program advisory panel to provide advice on program evolution, including the two-year review process, and the inclusion of Elizabeth McDonald, CanSIA’s president as a member is a clear sign of the government’s respect for CanSIA and underlines its efforts to get this right.
I want to underscore the importance of this appointment for all CanSIA members. Elizabeth has deep experience serving on similarly mandated government committees. Most recently, she was the chair of the Ontario Solar Task Force, which convened Feb. 15, 2008 and focused on the residential solar hot water (RSHW) market in Ontario and the potential role of RSHW in meeting the province's goal of 100,000 solar roofs.
Her participation in the OPA microFIT program advisory panel gives our membership even greater advocacy before the government and will definitely help avoid the kinds of disruptions caused by the July 2nd announcement and will lead to a more certain, sustained growth phase where our businesses can prosper.
The OPA is to be congratulated for its efforts and for listening to the diverse voices that make up the renewable energy industry. Clearly, the government’s acceptance of our suggestions shows that our rational and reasoned approach was the right way to go and I want to thank you again for your continued patronage and support in CanSIA.
We had asked the government:
- to not retroactively impose a new price on microFIT applications that were already submitted;
- that the ground-mount rate be reconsidered;
- the application process be expedited;
- an advisory panel be created; and,
- that a clearly defined ongoing consultations process be established.
As evidenced by the OPA release today they heard us and the program is better for it.
As with all complex programs not all issues have been resolved but our status going forward will enable the industry to continue to be part of the dialogue and to keep the membership informed as decisions are made.
According to the OPA they will host a webinar Aug. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. to answer questions about the finalized price, the advisory panel and other details. Information on how to participate can be found on the microFIT website.
I look forward to reporting future developments on this file in this format and thank the team at CanSIA and the members of the CanSIA microFIT working group for their tireless efforts in making our industry’s voice heard.
David Eisenbud
Chair
CanSIA Board of Directors
