Lawyers in Canada: Davis LLP - Legal Advisors Since 1892

Residential renewable pioneers to avoid FIT local content rules

On October 22, the Toronto Star reported that Minister Smitherman is considering exempting homeowners who bought residential solar systems before October 1, 2009 from the local content rules under the Ontario Power Authority's Feed-in Tariff program. The local content rules have been seen by many as a major impediment to developing renewable projects in Ontario. For small scale residential solar systems, 40% of the project must be manufactured in Ontario (increasing to 60% in 2011).

Minister Smitherman also indicated that some projects that had received contracts under the old Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program, which had significantly lower prices than the FIT, will be upgraded to FIT contracts.

Both of these announcements were well received by "renewable energy pioneers" who had already made substantial investments in renewable energy systems for their homes.

Obama lavishes smart grid sector with $3.4 billion; Ontario remains conservative

On Tuesday, October 27, President Obama announced that the U.S. government would provide $3.4 billion to support around 100 smart grid projects. These projects, to be undertaken by distribution and transmission utilities, will include implementing advanaced metering infrastructure, substation automation, and other information and control systems. The president said the new investment will help build a "smarter, stronger and more secure electric grid." Grants range from $400,000 to $200 million and will be matched by a total of $4.7 billion in private funds.

Ontario's approach is decidedly more conservative. Despite the prominence of the smart grid in the Green Energy and Green Economy, 2009 Act, the province has yet to provide any specifics as to how smart grid development will be supported. Distributors will be required to include smart grid investments as part of green energy infrastructure investment plans. However, distributors are not yet being encouraged to "think big." Rather, in guidance issued in June, the Ontario Energy Board provided that such expenditures should be recorded to a new deferral account (which will be subject to review at subsequent rate hearings) and should be limited to:

• smart grid studies or demonstration projects;
• smart grid planning; and
• smart grid education and training.

Brian Hewson, senior manager of the OEB's Networks & Smart Grid unit, reiterated this guidance at the Smart Grid Summit held in Toronto on October 14 and 15. To a room full of distributors and technology vendors, he emphasized that the OEB was waiting for more guidance from the government and would not approve profligate smart grid spending in the meantime. He also emphasized that any demonstration projects should only be undertaken after the utility has satisfied itself that no similar such project has been undertaken elsewhere.

While the OEB's conservative approach is understandable, one questions whether innovation opportunities are being missed in Ontario as a result. Chronic underinvestment in grid infrastructure has pushed much equipment to (or past) its expected end of life. Ontario's supply mix, and the demands on the grid, are set to change as a result of the introduction of more renewable generation. The time is therefore ripe to invest in the modernization of the grid. By encouraging, rather than restraining, an industry that is ready to change, the government could capitalize on excellent timing while advancing its promise to create up to 50,000 green collar jobs in the province.

223 Proponents Apply for CCEMC Funding

The Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation ("CCEMC") issued its 2009 Call for Proposals: Initial Expression of Interest Stage (the "EOI") on August 5, 2009. The response to the EOI has been, to say the least, overwhelming. According to the CCEMC website, 223 proponents have requested funding from the CCEMC for a total ask of $1.6 Billion Dollars.

This is astounding news. Why you ask? Keep reading.

What Does It Mean?

1. The response to the EOI has been overwhelming. Remember that the CCEMC was only incorporated in February. The Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund Administration Regulation, which delegates the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Environment (Alberta) to the CCEMC was only enacted in May, 2009. That in less than a year the CCEMC has been able to request EOIs and receive responses from 223 proponents is staggering.

2. The sheer number of proponents and amount of the ask demonstrates how interested Albertans and Industry in Alberta are in climate change technology and initiatives. There's a lot going on in Alberta right now in the area of climate change initiatives as evidenced by the fact 223 proponents have applied for funding.

3. The number of proponents and the success of this first EOI shows that Alberta Environment and the Government of Alberta were absolutely right in anticipating and recognizing the importance of establishing a climate change technology fund and the structure of the CCEMC. (For more information on the importance and uniqueness of the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, click here.

4. The CCEMC has up to $120 million for project funding for the 2009 Call for Proposals. Up to 50 percent of monies will be invested in green energy production, 20 percent in energy conservation and energy efficiency and 30 percent in implementing carbon capture and storage. Although there is only $120 Million available at this time, there will be further rounds of calls for proposals as more funds are received from the current and future compliance years. The CCEMC will consider the EOIs and the funding envelopes outlined above and select the very best for the full proposal stage.

5. The fact that the CCEMC is through the first stage in its process for calling for projects is a first in Canada and is clearly the most significant event in the world of climate change innovation in this country. The model for climate change funding in Alberta is working to create action.

The evaluation of the EOIs received by the CCEMC is currently in progress. Proponents whose projects are being selected to submit full project proposals will be notified by November 13, 2009. An annoucement of those selected to submit full project proposals will be made shortly thereafter....just in time for the UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December. Alberta will truly have the technology fund showpiece at the conference and has much to be proud of.

Vancouver - The Greenest City of them All?

The City of Vancouver is on a quest to become the "greenest" city of them all. Not without "fierce competition" though, from the likes of London, Sydney, Copenhagen, New York, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm and others. Copenhagen is the self-described "Global Climate Capital", Stockholm aims to be fossil fuel free by 2050 and London's mayor has pledged to make London the "cleanest and greenest city in the world."

To fulfill this "green" quest, the City of Vancouver has released a long-term action plan dubbed Vancouver 2020: A Bright Green Future - An Action Plan for Becoming the World�s Greenest City by 2020. The plan sets out measurable and ambitious targets in three broad areas: 1) Green Economy, Green Jobs; 2) Greener Communities; and 3) Human Health.

1) Green Economy/Green Jobs
Targets set in this area include:

• Green Jobs - generating 20,000 new green jobs. Two signature ideas related to this are: i) creation of "Low Carbon Economic Development Zones"; and ii) a green entrepreneur kick-start program. The proposed Zones would be areas such as False Creek Flats which would be designated for the development of low-carbon businesses, technologies, products and services. The Kick-Start program would offer expert guidance and seed capital to aspiring "green' entrepreneurs.
• Reducing Emissions (Climate Change Leadership) - reducing GHG emissions 33% from 2007 levels (as set out in the province's Energy Plan). This involves developing an integrated energy strategy, and changing land-use patterns to increase density and permit mixed-uses.
• Green Building - developing a strategy to enable all new construction to be carbon neutral by 2020, and improved efficiency of existing buildings by 20%. The report notes that "tens of thousands of buildings will require energy efficient retrofits." The report also notes that "On-Bill Financing" could be very beneficial to encourage energy-efficiency upgrades.

2) Greener Communities
Targets set in this area include:

• "Green mobility" - making at least 25% of trips on foot or bicycle and 25% on public transit. Recent data indicates that walking and transit account for 17% while cycling sits at 3%.
• Zero Waste - reducing solid waste per capita by 40% going to landfill or incinerator. Currently metro Vancouver produces 1.5 tonnes of solid waste per capita annually.
• Easy Access to Nature - every person living within a 5 minutes walk of a park, beach or greenway or other natural space (today the figure is 71%), and planting an additional 150,000 trees.
• Lighter footprint - reducing per capita ecological footprint by 33%. Ecological footprint measures how much of the regenerative capacity of the earth is used by human activities.

3) Human Health
Targets set in this area include:

• Clean Water and Water Conservation and Stewardship- reducing per capita consumption by 33 % and meeting or beating the strongest drinking water standards set by B.C., Canada, and World Health Organization (WHO). Reducing consumption could be done through increased metering (currently only 14% are metered) and volume-based pricing.
• Clean Air - meeting or beating WHO air quality guidelines.
• Local Food - reducing the carbon footprint of our food by 33 % per capita, by adopting "Buy Local" campaigns, and building sustainable urban food systems.

The City of Vancouver has also announced its new branding of the city as "Vancouver Green Capital", which will be featured at the Vancouver House during the 2010 Games.

Carbon Disclosure Project Report 2009: Moving from voluntary to mandatory reporting in 2010...

On October 8th, the Carbon Disclosure Project Report 2009: Canada 200 was released. According to the executive summary by the Conference Board of Canada:
"The results for the 2009 Carbon Disclosure Project survey indicate that Canada's largest companies in both the low-carbon and high-carbon impact sectors have implemented significant initiatives to prepare for successfully operating in a carbon-constrained world. Further, the "best practices" demonstrated by this year's Climate Disclosure Leaders are further evidence of proactive preparatory actions. However, widespread engagement in a comprehensive manner in preparation for operations in this new business environment is not yet a reality."

According to an article in Green Business businesses in the power, oil and gas, cement, chemicals, mining, smelting and refining, steel, and pulp and paper sectors in Canada are anticipating mandatory climate change disclosure requirements, and many has already started with voluntary reports.
According to the federal government's latest plans, the first reporting period starts in 2010 and the first trial compliance period starts in January 2011.
The Canadian government announced on July 15, 2009 that the minimum threshold for greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting under the National Pollutant Release Inventory program in 2010 will be lowered from 100,000 to 50,000 tonnes. It is broadly anticipated that the threshold will be eventually lowered to 25,000 tonnes annual emissions to align with the U.S. standard, which will include virtually all commercial scale facilities.

The Canadian government's new regulations will specify what reduction targets reporting companies will be required to achieve. As a result, all compliance and financial risks will need to be reflected in the Management Disclosure and Analysis (MD&A) and in financial statements on a quarterly basis where material. These statements will in turn require audit and/or disclosure committee sign-off and have implications for corporate governance.

Canadian Ambassador to US: Oilsands Get Disproportionate Amount of Criticism

Canada's Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer, who is a former NDP Premier of Manitoba, stated yesterday that the oilsands are facing a disproportionate amount of criticism in the climate change debate. Mr. Doer argues that North America is missing the big picture on global warming if Canada is singled out as the chief emissions culprit, the Montreal Gazette reported this morning.

"One of the concerns that I have is that it represents so little of the emissions in North America. It's getting a disproportionate amount of chatter," Gary Doer said in an interview yesterday with Canwest News Service. "The question is: How much do the oilsands represent as a percentage of emissions in North America? It's a very small amount. If we don't deal with all sources of emissions, we are not going to have a solution that's comprehensive."

Exactly.

The oilsands are much maligned. Greenpeace is up there trying to block production (and recently got sued by Suncor for its efforts), activists are tying themselves to machines, and natural gas lobbyist groups in the US are pointing their fingers at the oilsands. But do you know what the chief source of carbon emissions in North America is? It's not oilsands. It's not SUVs and trucks, tailpipes or dryer vents.

It's coal.

What are we doing about it? If you've been following our blogs, you'll see that Alberta and Canada have just made a $769 million pledge to a carbon capture and storage project for a coal thermal plant - the technology used at the plant will be the first of its kind in the world. The US is presently conducting a $14 million study to see if they should spend $1 billion on CCS for coal thermal plants in the US. It's a step in the right direction. Emissions from coal thermal plants in North America are about sixty times higher than the emisisons from the oilsands and coal is the fastest growing fossil fuel being produced (World Watch Institute, October 15, 2009). According to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the oilsands only account for about five per cent of Canada's overall greenhouse gas emissions - a much smaller number when all of North America is taken into account.

David Jacobsen, the new US Ambassador to Canada, met with Ambassador Doer in Winnipeg on Monday, after a trip through the oilsands last week. Ambassador Jacobsen, who called Canada "a pillar in the energy security of the United States" , acknowledges that the oilsands must be part of the equation. Canada's new US Ambassador seems to agree, stating "[y]ou've got to look at everything. How do you reduce emissions from coal? How do you increase the use of renewables? How do you have the increase in energy efficiency?" All of these items have to be on the agenda. The fact that one project (oilsands) is discussed means that we've missed the big picture".

Big picture indeed. The big picture actually includes China and India, particularly if Copenhagen is really going to amount to a meaningful climate change treaty. China is constructing coal plants at a frentic pace and has the world's third largest coal reserves, after the US and Russia. Because China now uses more coal than the United States, Europe and Japan combined, it the world's largest emitter of gases that are warming the planet. Why is everyone so concerned with the oilsands, when the real question is - what is China going to do about climate change?

China has a script they stick to which basically goes something like this - the rest of you got to do it, now it's our turn - too bad if you don't like it. China is setting its self up as the advocate of the developing world (intensity targets tied to GNP), but meanwhile as China points fingers and constructs power plants, the Maldives, the lowest country in the world, could wind up entirely underwater.

Shouldn't Greenpeace be more worried about that?

Another $769 Million in CCS Funding Announced

Like Alberta, Canada is putting its money where it's mouth is. On October 14, 2009 Prime Minister Stephen Harper traveled to Wabamun, Alberta, the site of the Keephills Power Plant, to announce $769 in funding for carbon capture and storage. The pledge will retrofit Keephills, a thermal coal power plant on the shores of one of the Edmonton areas largest lakes. Alberta will spend $436 million over the next 15 years on the project, with most of the money coming from its $2-billion Carbon Capture and Storage Fund. Ottawa is kicking in $343 million from its Clean Energy Fund.

"Our government is determined that Canada remain a world leader in in the use of this state-of-the-art technology," the Prime Minister said, adding "Carbon capture and storage could not only drastically reduce our emissions but by exporting it to other countries we could also make a major contribution to the reduction of global emissions".

The announcement comes on the heels of last week's Alberta/Canada announcment that the governments were spending $865 million on the Shell Quest project. The October 14 annoucement relates to a letter of intent the Alberta government has signed with Transalta Utitlities, who owns Keephills, to build a pioneer project, which Premier Ed Stelmach says will be the first of its kind in the world. The Premier remarked "[i]t'll be the first major CCS project to involve coal-fired power generation and the potential for such a project is enormous. Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel and the most commonly used source of electricity in the world". Alberta gets about 2/3 of its power from coal fired sources - about 6400 megawatts. The technology developed in the Keephills project has the potential to be used to retrofit other coal fired plants around the world.

Clearly both the Alberta and Canadian governments recognize that the time for action is now. With Copenhagen in a couple of very short months, Canada will have many good news stories to share with the world. With last week's major CCS announcement, the CCEMC and its administration of Alberta's Climate Change Emissions Management Fund and now this additional commitment, Canada and Alberta have demonstrated a huge financial and strategic commitment to addressing climate change (more so than the US?).

What will others be bringing to the table in December?

A Greener Future for Alberta Forestry Waste

The Government of Alberta recently announced its support for the development, by Davis client the Otoka Energy Corporation, of the first of its kind waste-to-energy production facility, where sawmill wood waste and forestry residuals will be converted into clean, sustainable energy. Otoka, a renewable energy company created with the intention of developing and operating "biomass to energy" facilities, will receive a $20,000,000 grant from Alberta's share of the Canada EcoTrust for Clean Air and Climate change, plus an additional $5,000,000 grant through Alberta's Biorefining commercialization and Market Development Program.

These grants position Otoka to implement and develop its innovative system in Drayton Valley, Alberta. Phase I of Otoka's Drayton Valley Energy Campus will convert 380,000 tonnes of wood waste, presently being burned in slash-piles or left as waste, into clean electricity thereby reducing greenhouse gases by an estimated 400,000 tonnes annually and taking Otoka a step closer to its goal of creating local solutions for the international demand for clean, sustainable energy.

Alberta Environment Minister, Rob Renner, said "The Drayton Valley Energy Campus is an excellent example of Alberta's investment in a sustainable future. It's a win-win for Albertans. We're producing electricity, turning forestry waste into valuable commodities and reducing Alberta's greenhouse gases."

The Drayton Valley Energy Campus supports Alberta's vision to be a leader in sustainable development, and the Alberta Government's contribution shows its continued commitment to implement the its Provincial Energy Strategy, supporting a green future where growth of renewable energy resources is critical. The Otoka project will help reduce Alberta's carbon footprint by converting existing waste into clean energy. Because of their tremendous environmental impact, Otoka is recognized as an example of a company assisting Alberta in implementing its climate change strategy. We will continue to work with Otoka as it takes further steps toward the development of the Drayton Valley Energy Campus.

$865 MILLION in CCS Funding Announced Today

The Alberta and Federal Governments formally announced $865 of funding for a commercial carbon capture and storage project today. Shell Canada was "first out of the gate in the carbon capture effort [today], winning pledges of $865 million in provincial and federal aid for its Quest pilot project", the Edmonton Journal reports. The funding was announced by Alberta Energy Minister Mel Knight and federal Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt who said "the most viable emissions-reducing technology for fossil fuels is carbon capture and storage. The government of Canada is delivering results by supporting new, clean technology innovation, positioning Canada as a leader in this technology development and resulting in significant benefits for our environment".

We've blogged a number of times that Alberta, with its small population of 3.6 million, is leading the way, certainly within Canada, but perhaps in North America, in directing funds to address climate change. The announcment today is the first "spend" from Alberta's $2 billion CCS Fund. The federal government has a $1 billion Clean Energy Fund. $850 million of the Clean Energy Fund can be used to developing commercially viable technologies including CCS.

Alberta has signed a letter of intent with Shell to contribute $745 million in funding for the Quest CCS project over the next 15 years. Ottawa kicked in an additional $120 million through the Clean Energy Fund.

Shell Canada spokesman Graham Boje praised the province and federal government "for their leadership and vision on advancing the deployment of CCS...finding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is one of the most important challenges facing society, and developing a substantial CCS capability with governments and key stakeholders is one of our greatest priorities".

Shell Quest aims to store up to 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 per year from its current upgrader in Fort Saskatchewan and that upgrader's expansion, which is under construction. The existing upgrader produces 155,000 barrells of synthetic oil per day and 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year. The expansion will produce an additional 100,000 barrells per day with proportionate CO2 emissions.

It's October. It can't be a coincidence that this annoucement comes a mere 59 days before the Conference of the Parties starts in Copenhagen, Denmark. Right now, CCS is one of Canada's good news climate change stories. But if you're thinking that CCS is the only thing in Alberta's bag of climate change tricks, think again.

Don't forget that Alberta has this unique creature called the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, which is administered by the CCEMC. The CCEMC closed its 2009 Call for Proposals: Initial Expression of Interest Stage on September 30. Stayed tuned in the next few days to learn more about the EOI process.

Pacific Carbon Trust issues open call for carbon offsets

Submitted by Grant Boyle, Articled Student, Vancouver

On October 5 the Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT) issued an open call for carbon offsets.
The solicitation will be open to offset developers and suppliers to meet PCT's forecasted demand of one million tonnes of carbon offsets by 2011.

The solicitation will be open to multiple sectors including energy, landfills, transportation, buildings, forest products, tourism, agriculture and waste management. A separate land-based forestry offset solicitation is under development.

Eligible project types include landfill management (methane capture), fuel switching, energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage. To be considered, offsets must be generated in BC and have begun operation after Nov. 29, 2007.

Applicants who successfully respond to the solicitation and meet the qualification criteria will be included in the second phase of the process, a project selection solicitation.

As discussed in a previous postingthe PCT is a Crown Corporation established in 2008 to deliver BC-based greenhouse gas offsets to the BC public sector under BC's Emissions Offset Regulation.

The Clean Energy Dialogue Continues...

Energy/Environment High on Priority List for New US Ambassador to Canada

We have blogged many times about the Clean Energy Dialogue between Canada and the United States, which was begun when the U.S. President made his first official vist to Canada back in February. Looks like the Clean Energy Dialogue continues. Barack Obama's new envoy to Canada, US Ambassador David Jacobson, who officially started his term on Friday, said energy and environment issues are high on the agenda in discussions between the two countries.

After a ceremony at Rideau Hall with Governor General Michaele Jean where his credentials were formally accepted, the US Ambassador said "I also believe that the issues that predominate in the relationship between the United States and Canada are the kind of issues that I have spent a lifetime dealing with".

Canada A Pillar of Energy Security

In his remarks, Mr. Jacobsen acknowledged that U.S. and Canadian energy security and environmental concerns would be closely linked and up for discussion in the near future.

While U.S. lawmakers released a cap and trade bill into the Senate last week which includes measures smacking of protectionism, Mr. Jacobsen indicated he would soon start to participate in ongoing discussions about these measures, although added that he believed the talks have so far been constructive and cordial.

"Canada is a pillar in the energy security of the United States," he said. "There are also environmental issues that we all know about that are getting more and more important every day, and I expect that I will spend a lot of time dealing with those."

Another Chicago Connection

Mr. Jacobson is a former lawyer, who, like John Podesta, an influential member of the President's transition team and advocate of cap and trade, is also from the President's hometown of Chicago. Mr. Jacobson had been serving in the White House as an advisor on diplomatic postings.

What Does It Mean?

With China on the hunt to buy into Alberta's oilsands, which, let's face it, are the key to energy security for both Canada and the United States in the decades to come, and with the appointment of David Jacobsen, who seems to realize this, it is certainly a very interesting time to be in Ottawa! Perhaps protectionism may have to take a back seat to ensuring Americans have a safe and secure supply of energy.

We'll see. It may all become more clear in December when the world convenes in Denmark.

Senators Kerry and Boxer release Senate climate bill

Submitted by Grant Boyle, Articled Student, Vancouver

On September 30, 2009, Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer released the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act(the Kerry-Boxer bill). The Kerry-Boxer bill is the first energy and climate bill to be introduced in the US Senate since the House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey billin June of 2009. The Kerry-Boxer bill is similar to the House bill, but will likely be more difficult to pass as it requires a super majority of 60 votes rather than the simple majority required in the House. Whether and when the bill could pass through the Senate is difficult to say. However, the bill provides one more building block in piecing together the trajectory of US climate change legislation, which, if passed, would certainly impact Canadian business and the development of Canadian climate change legislation.

• The bill would reduce emissions from covered sources 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 - a target that is 3% more stringent than the Waxman-Markey bill.
• 25% of allowances would be auctioned, the proceeds of which would go toward "deficit reduction'.
• The cap and trade portion of the bill would cap about 7500 facilities ( electricity and fossil fuel suppliers, industrial facilities etc.) or about three quarters of US emissions.
• The bill would allow for 2 billion tonnes of offsets annually, the same amount as Waxman-Markey, 25% of which could come from international projects, a lesser amount than under Waxman-Markey. The Environmental Protection Agency could increase the number of international offsets by 750 million.
• The bill, like Waxman-Markey would preempt state-level cap and trade plans, like the Western Climate Initiative, from 2011 to 2017.
• As with Waxman-Markey, the bill would contain a number of programmes and regulations in addition to the cap and trade with respect to coal, carbon capture and storage and renewable energy and energy efficiency.

E.ON AG completes construction on the world's largest wind farm in Roscoe, Texas

German-based E.ON AG announced yesterday that it has completed construction on the world's largest wind farm, a 781.5-megawatt project in Roscoe, Texas, which is situated about 200 miles west of Fort Worth. The project has the capacity to power approximately 230,000 homes.

The project, which eclipses the capacity of the previous world record holder NextEra Energy Resources' nearby 735.5 megawatt Horse Hollow wind farm, comprised an investment in excess of $1 billion and coordination with more than 300 landowners over 100,000-plus acres of land.

The state of Texas, which is the United States' leader in wind power with an installed capacity of 8,335 megawatts, expects to more than double that figure over the next few years as developers add new transmission lines to connect remote areas of the state.

Waste-to-biofuels plant to use residual heat and synthetic gas from its process as heating and cooling energy for residents and institutions on outskirts of Edmonton

Enerkem, a waste-to-biofuels and green chemicals technology company, today jointly announced a community energy initiative that will heat a Strathcona County neighbourhood, using the residual heat and synthetic gas from its process employed at its Edmonton waste-to-biofuels plant. On hand for the joint announcement were Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner, City of Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel, and Strathcona County Mayor Cathy Olesen.
Enerkem's community energy project received $7.45 million grant funding from the Government of Alberta from the Clean Air and Climate Change-Technology and Innovation Program, under Alberta's share of the Canada ecoTrust. The project was selected because of its great potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the Edmonton Region, by providing a clean alternative source of energy.
The Enerkem GreenField Alberta Biofuels plant will provide the residual heat and synthetic gas from its process as heating and cooling energy for residents and institutions in the Emerald Hills area. Strathcona County will use the innovative alternative to natural gas in a heating loop in Sherwood Park. Once operational in 2012, the Enerkem renewable energy project will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 7,000 tonnes per year.

OPA and IESO launch FIT websites

The Ontario Power Authority's Feed-in Tariff program opened today. To assist potential applicants,

• the OPA launched websites for both the FIT and microFIT programs; and
• the IESO launched a website explaining the process for obtaining impact assessments and registering with the IESO, as applicable.