First Nation and Métis people, businesses and communities will be able to access up to $500,000 in funds for community based renewable energy projects.  The Aboriginal Energy Partnership Program was announced by the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Brad Duguid, at the Aboriginal Energy Forum on April 27th. "Ontario's Green Energy Act is opening up opportunities for First Nation and Métis people, businesses and communities to participate in the transformation of our energy sector," said Minister Duguid. "Through this new partnership program, we are creating the conditions necessary for success by providing concrete support to build capacity in Aboriginal communities." Applications will be accepted beginning April 28, 2010.

Farm Credit Canada has announced a new FCC Energy Loan to aide farmers and agribusinesses move towards producing their own green energy. Beginning March 1st, Canadian farmers and agribusiness owners interested in producing their own renewable energy will have a new federal financing option to do so. The loan will help farmers purchase and install on-farm energy sources like biogas, geo-thermal, wind or solar power. With interest in renewables amongst the agricultural sector increasing across the country, Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz affirmed that, "this initiative is good for the environment and it's good for the bottom line on farms across Canada."

Communities in Ontario gained an important tool to enable their own renewable energy projects with the announcement of the Community Energy Partnerships Program. The CEPP will finance up to 90 per cent of eligible development costs to a maximum of $200,000 for community power projects between 10 kilowatts and 10 megawatts. Co-ops, charities, not-for-profits and individual Ontarians such as farmers developing projects are eligible for the fund. "Financial barriers are a significant impediment to communities developing their own green power projects" attests CEPP program director Laurie Arron. "The CEPP will provide vital seed capital" to encourage the development of community power. An introductory webinar on May 19th at 2:00 p.m. EST will discuss applying for CEPP funding.

The Aboriginal Human Resource Council and the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding to foster and develop Aboriginal opportunities in Ontario's green energy sector. The MOU outlines how the two organizations will work together on a  number of objectives to advance the resources, skills, employment and business opportunities available to Aboriginal people and communities. During the Inclusion Works '10 event in Toronto, AHRC and OSEA released a new publication, Green Energy Outlook: Generating Opportunities for Aboriginal Communities, to promote the initiative. The Inclusion Works '10 program also included a breakout session on "Creating Aboriginal Opportunities in the Green Energy Sector."

Seven hundred Ontarians will be celebrating a green holiday season after being the first to receive offers to generate renewable electricity under the province’s new feed-in tariff program. The new microFIT program encourages the development of small-scale renewable energy from a diverse range of producers, including homeowners, schools, farmers and small businesses.

“The people of the province have long indicated that they are willing, even eager, to do something to address climate change. The OPA's microFIT program gives them that opportunity and they are taking it. Local power production means more personal control and profits," said Kristopher Stevens in a press statement released by the Ontario Power Authority.

OSEA is pleased to announce that our new membership structure has been finalized and is currently in place! We now offer four membership categories that are based on supporting OSEA's values, mission and vision and offer a variety of benefits that include discounts on services and products, invitation to member update webinars, and recognition in OSEA's extensive network of members and affiliates. Past and current members who renew before July 1st will also receive 15% off their membership fees this year. The membership application can be downloaded here. Contact Sonya at 416-977-4441 extension 2 for further information.

OSEA has moved to a new office located at 156 Front St. West, Toronto, ON, next door to the Ontario Centres of Excellence (corner of University Ave. and Front St.).  We are looking for individuals and organizations to join us in this new space. If you or someone you know is interested in subletting OSEA's office space, please contact us as soon as possible. We offer competitive rates and services and have space available for up to 10 people. First come, first served!  For further information on pricing and services please click here to download the subtenant info package. A total of 2933 sq ft is available at $17 per square foot plus operational costs. First and last months deposit required upon signing.

Over ninety companies, communities and individuals participated in an online webinar co-hosted by OSEA and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.  Mark Salerno of CMHC, presented on the Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program for housing-related infrastructure. The program provides opportunities for low interest, long term loans to be made available to municipalities for developing renewable energy projects. Click here to access the webinar recording.

OSEA since inception has been working to ensure Ontario's power system becomes more inclusive for locally-owned, community power generators. Continuing our ongoing efforts to monitor and address policy and regulatory issues on behalf of our membership, we are excited to announce a number of recent successes and to share a recent policy letter submitted to the new Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, the Hon. Brad Duguid. Recent policy changes bring good news for campuses, municipal properties and other community power groups seeking multiple FIT projects on one property as well as encouraging community ownership with set back exemptions for landowners participating in community power projects.

With the passage of the province’s new Green Energy Act, opportunities abound for everyone, from individuals to charities to municipalities, to generate both power and a profit, all the while protecting the planet. To explore these opportunities and develop a strategy for taking advantage of them, Newmarket – Tay Power has sought the help of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, which has for more than a decade assisted farmers, First Nations, religious organizations, homeowners and energy co-operatives develop clean, green energy projects.

Ontario's controversial new green energy deal with Samsung was put on the hotseat in a recent episode of TVO's The Agenda. OSEA's Kristopher Stevens took part in the panel that also included Randall Denley (Ottawa Citizen) Tom Rand (MaRS) and Norm Rubin (Energy Probe). Panelists evaluated whether the deal with Samsung will hurt domestic green energy suppliers, raise electricity prices for consumers, and create jobs. Is Ontario's deal with Samsung good for the province? Watch the complete program on our website and decide for yourself.

OSEA is excited to announce two new low-interest financing choices that support the Community Power sector. Our two newest members, the Italian Canadian Savings and Credit Union and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, are offering special financing that can assist with the development of sustainable energy projects. We are pleased to welcome both the Italian Canadian Savings and Credit Union and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation on board, and we look forward to working together to further the growth of the sector. To find out more about these programs click here.

Contracts for green electricity awarded to community groups and First Nations show clearly that the people of Ontario support renewable energy. While opposition to wind turbines, bio-digesters and solar farms make the headlines, communities are forging ahead with projects that will produce hundreds of megawatts of power.  In the latest procurement of renewable energy by the Ontario Power Authority, contracts under the province's feed-in tariff program have been awarded to 36 community and Aboriginal groups. Members of OSEA received contracts including M'Chigeeng First Nations and Windfall Ecology Centre, both involved in wind farm projects under development.

A major exhibition is being mounted that will have photographers focus their lenses on energy - and specifically renewable energy, which may require OSEA members to smile for the cameras. The show is being produced by PhotoSensitive in partnership with OSEA. PhotoSensitive is a not-for-profit collective of professional photographers, which has been using the power of the picture to bring about social change for 20 years. The exhibition will include a hundred black and white photos taken by some of Canada's best photographers. The aim is to raise awareness of renewable energy initiatives such as those being developed by OSEA members, as well as highlight other related issues such as energy consumption and conservation.

Several OSEA members are the first medium-size power generators to be awarded contracts under the provincial feed-in tariff program. They are among 510 new green energy projects announced on March 10 by the Ontario Power Authority at a press conference held at a Loblaw store in Toronto. Loblaw has obtained FIT contracts to install solar panels on over 100 of its stores throughout the province. Everybody is participating, from everywhere in Ontario, from farmers, schools and hospitals to large scale retail and commercial operations," said Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. Most of the 500 projects announced are solar, although several are for wind, hydro and biogas

OSEA is asking its members to demand transparency within the Ontario Power Authority's review process regarding the microFIT and FIT programs. The ad hoc and untransparent methodology used to reach the proposed change to the established price for ground mounted solar threatens the stability of the entire program. Contact your MPP today to demand action on this issue. Download a template letter and voice your concern now.

Click here if you have a microFIT project and are affected by the freezing of ground mounted applications and the proposed price change.

Click here if you do not own a project but are concerned with the stability of Ontario's renewable energy industry.

Videos interviews from the office warming party. Members and friends share updates and talk about their involvement with OSEA.

Sounds and vibrations emitted from wind turbines do not adversely affect human health, a prestigious, international panel of experts has concluded. The panel, which included professionals in the fields of medicine, audiology, acoustics, the environment and public health from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Denmark, was jointly established by the American Wind Energy Association and the Canadian Wind Energy Association to conduct a review of all current, peer-reviewed, scientific literature available on the perceived health effects of wind turbines.

• Full study (PDF document)
  
• Executive Summary (PDF document)