Ontario’s green energy legislation , passed in 2009, has helped spawn a wave of new investments in clean energy, especially within solar. Ontario Energy Minister, Brad Duguid’s visit to a new solar power facility in Norfolk County is illustrative of the growing bonds between the business and political spheres as the province continues its “green” push. The Minister was visiting to monitor the progress of a solar power project being developed there in a joint venture between SunEdison Canada and SkyPower Limited.
Joint Ventures Power Solar Energy Investments
Many of the planned and ongoing investments in solar power arising from the Ontario green energy legislation involve joint ventures, including partnerships between solar power developers and property developers to retrofit existing buildings as well as newly constructed properties.
These solar power investments are helping to create countless new green jobs in solar energy installation. However, many of these new opportunities in PV technology require safety, design, and installation training only available through formal solar energy classes. Solar PV technology can be extremely dangerous, prompting many installation and integration outfits to only hire those with the requisite background.
Local Economic Impact of Solar Energy Investments
An important aspect of Ontario’s green energy legislation is the requirement that solar energy projects derive a certain percentage of parts and labour locally. Regardless of where PV professionals attend solar energy classes or acquire their technical skills, they either have to commute to or live near wherever they install solar energy systems in order for their projects to qualify for generous government incentives. Consequently, there could be many positive economic gains throughout Ontario’s solar industry as companies scramble to find, train, and maintain a local workforce of qualified solar professionals. At one solar park alone in Norfolk county, for example, as many as 150 new jobs could arise as a result of the province’s strict domestic content requirements. Many other projects and towns are experiencing similar trends as the province continues developing the expertise needed to erect sustainable infrastructure within the renewable energy sector.
