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Category Archives: FIT Program

Parkhill Hydro Generating Station, Grand River

By Linda Heron on Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
Posted in Dams, Energy, FIT Program, Grand River, Green Energy Act, Hydroelectric, Parkhill Hydro GS, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk

In September of 2016, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) received a Feed-in-Tariff Power Procurement Contract from the IESO to sell power to the grid.  In June 2017, the GRCA initiated a Class Environmental Assessment to evaluate the construction of a waterpower project, the Parkhill Hydro Generating Station located at the existing Parkhill Dam in the City of Cambridge. If approved and constructed, this waterpower project would have a nameplate capacity of 500 kW. The project is subject to the provisions of the Ontario Waterpower Association “Class Environmental Assessment for Waterpower Projects.” Pursuant to the Class EA, this project is considered to be associated with existing infrastructure. Continue reading →

Objection to Feed-in-Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 5.0.1

By Linda Heron on Thursday, October 27th, 2016
Posted in Dams, Energy, FIT Program, Government, Green Energy Act, Hydroelectric, ORA Submissions, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk

OntarioRiversAllianceBannerUse-960x288

Today I am writing to draw your attention to an issue that was quite concerning.  Rather than make an Application for Review under the Environmental Bill of Rights, I am reaching out to you in the hopes that you will withdraw a recent amendment to the FIT 5 Rules. Continue reading →

Terminated FIT Contracts

By Linda Heron on Wednesday, July 13th, 2016
Posted in At Soo Crossing, Big Eddy, Blanche River, Cascade Falls, E-Newsletter, Energy, FIT Program, Fourth Slide Falls, Frederick House River, Green Energy Act, Half Mile Rapids, Hydroelectric, Ivanhoe River, Kapuskasing River, Lapinigam Rapids, Larder River, Marter Township GS, Matawin River, McCarthy Chute, McGraw Falls GS, McPherson Falls, Middle Twp., Near North Boundary, ORA Reports, Outlet Kapuskasing Lk, Petawawa River, Raven Falls, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Serpent River, Sturgeon Chute, The Chute, Third Falls, Vermilion River, Wabagishik Rapids, Wanapitei River, Wanatango Falls

The Ontario Rivers Alliance filed a Freedom of Information Application with the IESO in February of 2016 to obtain the following list of terminated Feed-in-Tariff Contracts: Continue reading →

Xeneca to Valued Stakeholders

By Linda Heron on Tuesday, April 7th, 2015
Posted in Class EA for Waterpower, Dams, Energy, Environmental Reports, FIT Program, Green Energy Act, Hydroelectric, Large Energy Procurement, ORA Submissions, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk

Wabagishik Rapids, Vermilion River – Photo by Aleta Karstad

Given your past interest in one or more of our projects we wish to advise that Xeneca Power Development is proceeding through a restructuring process brought about by significantly extended development timelines, increased regulatory requirements and exposure to rapidly escalating environmental, permitting, development and civil costs. Due to the above noted delays and costs that were not contemplated in Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) pricing and contract timelines, project economic viability has, in some cases, been driven into a negative position, and, as such, it is expected that some FIT contracts will be cancelled in order that those projects can be bid into Ontario’s upcoming Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) program.

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So What’s the Dam Problem

By Linda Heron on Saturday, June 28th, 2014
Posted in Dams, Energy, FIT Program, Green Energy Act, Hydroelectric, Impacts, River Concerns

Well there are several problems, but we may as well start with the root of the problem, and that is a provincial government bent on building its reputation as a Green Energy leader, and attracting big business into this Province to exploit  its resources and sell off Crown land to private companies. Democracy for the people and protecting our environment and natural resources isn’t high on their list of priorities.  “Ontario is open for business.”

Currently there are 86 hydroelectric dam proposals going through the approvals process in the Province of Ontario, and the 2005 Hatch Acres Report lists about 600 potential sites.  Many of these dams are slated for “modified peaking”, a method of holding water back for up to 48 hours in head ponds, for release during peak demand hours.  So that leads us to the next on our list of problems…. Continue reading →