News of the pending payment reductions in Ontario’s microFIT program has left some early solar adopters in limbo due to loans and risks taken. If the rate changes go through, solar installations could decrease across the province, crippling a green economy that was just starting to flourish.
“Out of the blue…the Ontario Power Authority announced changes to the program tariff by reducing the level of compensation by 27%,” Andrea McCoy-Naperstkow, President of the Lanark Federation of Agriculture comments. “Why? Because the OPA believes the new price category is fair, reasonable, and more accurately reflecting the costs associated with ground-mounted projects and maintains the long-term stability of the program.”
According to David Gower, Associate Director of Ontario Solar Academy, “Solar adoption needs to happen at all levels - not just with multi-nationals.” He adds, “The beauty of the original microFIT program is that is democratizes solar, making it more affordable for homeowners, farmers, and small businesses.”
Leaders Supporting Solar Installation
While the microFIT program itself is a government-created initiative, the backlash against the proposed rate change is decidedly grassroots - a trend that appears to have caught on globally as citizens around the world continue to push their respective governments to take the necessary steps to make renewable a reality.
Put Solar On It! is one such initiative in which members urge world leaders to lead by example. Solar provider, Sungevity, has even agreed to donate PV technology to those leaders who accept installations on their own rooftops - including the White House’s.
Since several Canadian leaders are in Ontario, this initiative could kick start the microFIT program successfully and, hopefully, put the payment rates back to the initial promised amount.
Put Solar On It! is hosted by 350.org, a site dedicated to decreasing CO2 and global warming. The name of the site comes from the amount of carbon dioxide the atmosphere can tolerate, which is 350 parts per million. Going over that amount leads to global crisis - we are currently sitting at 392.04 ppm and rising. Solar installation is one important step towards reducing carbon emissions, and with the support of Ontario programs such as the microFIT and the Put Solar On It! Global Green Party, this number is definitely achievable. Send your leaders a personal message, host a Global Work Party, or go to http://putsolaron.it/ for more ideas on what you can do.
