Report to: General Committee Report
Date:
SUBJECT: An Update on Bill 150 – The Green
PREPARED BY: Viive Sawler, Manager,
Office
(MECO)
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Report titled, “An Update on Bill 150 – The Green
THAT Council supports the intent of the GEA
to further the development of renewable energy projects and to continue to
create a culture of conservation;
THAT
THAT
And that
PURPOSE:
The purpose of
this Report is to provide a summary of Bill 150, the Green
BACKGROUND:
On
The GEA is
intended to establish
Bill 150 is enabling
legislation that provides new tools and Ministerial powers to lower the
barriers to delivering renewable energy initiatives and conservation
programs. The use of clean and renewable
energy sources including wind, water, solar, biomass and biogas is not only
important for the future of our environment but will also support future economic
prosperity. The implementation details
are now being rolled out through regulations.
To-date, draft regulations relating to the removal of local barriers to
renewable energy installations and proposed content for the Ministry of
Environment’s Renewable
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:
OVERVIEW OF THE GEA
There are two key
thrusts to the GEA – development of renewable generation and a continued and
strengthened emphasis on conservation and demand management (CDM).
Development of Renewable Generation
The GEA is
focused on fostering the growth of renewable energy projects and removing perceived
barriers to, and promoting opportunity for these projects. The GEA and the forthcoming regulatory
changes and policies to achieve this include:
·
A Renewable
·
Obligation by transmitters and
distributors to provide mandatory access and connection to the electricity grid
for renewable projects that meet technical, economic and other regulatory
requirements
·
Creation of a Feed-in Tariff (
Conservation and Demand Management
The second thrust
is on conservation and demand management (CDM), an important component of the
GEA as the cheapest kilowatt is a saved kilowatt (kW). This is one of the main tenets of Bill 150
and consequently, the theme of CDM runs throughout the amendments to the
various acts. Some of the requirements
included in the GEA to further the conservation agenda include:
·
Energy audits
·
Building code amendments
·
Efficiency standards for
appliances
·
Requirement for public agencies
to prepare Energy Plans
Reporting on the
results of these efforts will now be the responsibility of the Office of the
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (
BENEFITS OF THE GEA
The GEA supports
and prioritizes the implementation and expansion of clean and renewable energy
sources, such as wind, water, biomass, biogas, biofuel, solar energy,
geothermal energy, etc. Phasing out coal
is the single largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction initiative in
Another benefit
is that the GEA represents an opportunity to support local community power
generation which can stimulate local economies by keeping profits in the
community and creating work for local residents. It also eliminates the need to extend
transmission lines and reduces losses of electricity often associated with those
lines. In addition, being situated nearby where power is produced, there is also
an increased awareness of how energy is produced and consumed, thereby furthering
the culture of conservation. Ultimately, the GEA provides us with the
opportunity to determine the future of energy within our own communities.
The law also
allows municipalities to generate electricity without having to set up a
separate legal entity and restores the right of local distribution companies to
also become generators, as they once were before deregulation. Energy co-ops
are encouraged and legal barriers obstructing their formation have been removed
under the new legislation.
While discussions
with respect to the implications of the GEA have been taking place between the
Town of
IMPACTS TO MUNICIPALITIES
The key impact to
municipalities is with respect to the streamlining of the approvals
process. The legislation proposes
changes to both the Planning Act and Building Code Act which will minimize the
role that municipalities have in regulating these projects. The province is proposing a one-window
approvals process and standardized requirements for renewable energy projects.
The most significant changes are the elimination of any requirement to
comply with a municipal official plan, zoning by-law or site plan approval. The GEA also renders interim control by-laws
ineffective against renewable energy undertakings.[1] There are however, some controls that are not
affected including tree cutting by-laws, or ravine control by-laws. Property standards by-laws are not affected
either. Nor does the GEA preclude application of the Building Code Act and need
for building permits.
The intent of the
new Provincial approval process is to reduce time and effort to obtain
approvals and to permit development of renewable energy generation projects
that might otherwise have been impossible. The Act will allow for environmental standards
and setbacks to be identified in regulation and will incorporate stakeholder
consultation including a uniform process for proponent consultation with
municipalities on site requirements and local infrastructure.
The draft
regulations relating to Removing Local Barriers to Renewable
CONCLUSION
The GEA
represents a tremendous opportunity for all communities across the Province to
pursue renewable energy projects and continue to further our priority of
creating a culture of conservation and encouraging everyone to reduce their
energy consumption at home, at work and in their everyday lives. Overall, the GEA and the consequential
modifications to various other Provincial Acts or statutes are positive in
nature as they will support the development of renewable energy projects
through new financial incentives and a streamlined regulatory framework.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:
The GEA aligns
with the “Environment” priority under BMFT.
The GEA’s intent is to foster the development of renewable energy
projects and further the success in creating a ‘culture of conservation’. These two thrusts will positively impact Greenhouse
Gas Emissions in
BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND
AFFECTED:
Planning
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________ ________________________
Viive Sawler, Manager, John
Livey,
MECO
ATTACHMENTS:
Appendix A
Proposed Feed-in
Tariff Program - Revised Price Schedule,
Appendix B
Information
Notice - Removing Local Barriers to Renewable Energy Installations – Proposed
Regulation,
Appendix C
Proposed Content
for the Renewable