Canada: Ontario Provincial Cap and Trade Plan Goes into Effect

By: Marc Z. Goldgrub, Cleantech Law Partners

            On January 1st, 2017, the Canadian province of Ontario’s cap and trade plan went into effect. Introduced by current Provincial Premier Kathleen Wynne of the Ontario Liberal Party, the plan links Ontario with Quebec and California’s cap and trade carbon market, in place now for several years. 

The plan puts a cap on the amount of carbon homes and businesses can emit, and that cap lowers over time. Parties in the three subnationals whose emissions are above and below the cap can buy and sell carbon allowances each year in auctions, the first of which, for Ontario, will be held this March.

In Ontario, Canada, FIT projects approved for MH, AH

The province’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has approved a number of feed-in tariff (FIT) projects for Minden Hills and Algonquin Highlands. 

The IESO recently released a list of 936 renewable energy projects that were approved in the latest round of applications, more than 20 of them in Haliburton County. 

In Algonquin Highlands, five ground-mounted, solar projects were approved, all of them receiving support resolutions from Algonquin Highlands council last year. 

Canada: Improving property tax system for green energy

McGuinty Government's Changes Encourage Renewable Energy Installations

Ontario is supporting property owners who install renewable energy technologies by improving property tax assessment policies for them.

The changes will provide greater clarity by creating additional categories for property tax assessment based on the size and location of energy generation. The move will encourage property owners to continue to install and use renewable energy technologies.