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Endorsement of Ontario's Standard Offer Contract (ARTs) ProgramFebruary 17, 2006 Ver. 05 The energy challenge facing the world is critical. We need to develop renewable energy as quickly as possible. There's no time to waste. With its adoption of Standard Offer Contracts the government of Ontario has taken an historic step toward building a sustainable supply of electricity.
Hermann Scheer, member of the German National Parliament, author of several books on the solar economy, and co-author of Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act The National Farmers Union in Ontario lauds the announcement that Standard Offer Contracts for Renewable Energy will become Ontario Government policy. This is a bold step that will enable Ontario farmers to help the province meet its growing need for electrical power. Farmers need more diversified sources of income and the province needs more clean , sustainable and decentralized generation of electricity. Both farmers and the province's electricity consumers will be winners from this policy!
Don Mills Standard offer power is good for farmers and the power supply. It will let farmers provide clean power to Ontario while earning useful new incomes and it will build independence for farmers and all Ontario.
Ron Bonnett My sincere congratulations go to the Ontario Minister of Energy, the Honourable Donna Cansfield. Standard Offer Contracts assure equal treatment for producers of clean electricity. They guarantee customized revenues, depending on site quality and technology without undue windfall profits at good locations; this led to steady growth of a range of renewable energy systems in European countries which adopted this system. The model stands for success, investment security and cost reduction. I do hope that this Ontario step will set an example for other Canadian provinces and for the rest of North America.
Dr. Rudolf Rechsteiner , member of Swiss National Parliament On behalf of the World Wind Energy Association I would like to congratulate the government of Ontario, especially the Minister of Energy, the Honourable Donna Cansfield, on this excellent step. It opens up new market perspectives for wind energy development in Ontario which will have tremendously positive impacts also on further parts of North America. We have learned from other world regions that intelligent tariffs for wind electricity boosts the wind industry, creates new income and jobs especially in rural areas, reduces polluting emissions and finally secures an affordable electricity supply even in the long term. We are sure that the electricity generated by wind will be cheaper than any other means of generation of electricity in a very short time to come.
Dr. Anil Kane This move could put Ontario on track to achieve success with renewables similar to that of world leaders like Germany and Spain. Ontario's new policy could well become the model for North America to follow.
Janet Sawin, PhD On behalf of the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia (REGA), I would like to congratulate and commend Ontario's Minister of Energy, the Honourable Donna Cansfield and the Provincial Government for the development of what we believe is the most progressive piece of renewable energy legislation in North America. REGA represents Australia's leading renewable energy generators, project developers and service providers and our members are responsible for more than 95% of the electricity generated from renewable sources. We have also been a significant and effective voice to the Federal Government on policy development related to Australia's response to global warming, renewable energy industry development and the broader electricity market reforms. We therefore strongly endorse the creation of your Advanced Renewable Tariffs and feel they will become a model for the development of renewable energy policy in other jurisdictions around the world. Both feed-in-tariffs and tradeable renewable energy certificate schemes (such as that deployed in Australia) are providing the necessary market conditions for enhancing renewable energy technology deployment and with wide geographic spread. REGA is confident that the introduction of differentiated tariffs will effectively stimulate growth in a wide range of renewable energy technologies including wind, solar PV, hydro and biomass. It is our hope that other jurisdictions may also adopt similar progressive policies to ensure renewable energy is effectively supported into the future and on a truly global basis."
Peter Rae, former chairman of Hydro Tasmania, and former member of the Australian Senate -End- |