OSEA's Municipal Green Energy Brief
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Description: Form used to apply for a consultation for a renewable energy approval.
Ontario’s Renewable Energy Approvals Regulation provides the basis for a positive relationship between renewable energy proponents and local communities. We encourage renewable energy proponents to take a step further by developing a strategy for enhancing a long lasting positive relationship with local residents.
Click on the title for the full web page and resources.
If they’re not being good neighbours contact the Renewable Energy Facilitation office (REFO) or the Ministry of the Environment.
REFO@ontario.ca or by phone at 1-877-440-7336 (416-212-6582 within the GTA.
MOE 1-800-565-4923 (416-325-8477 within the GTA)
Ontario is funding an academic research program being led by Dr. Siva Sivoththaman, Ontario Research Chair in Renewable Energy Technologies and Health. Dr. Sivoththaman, a faculty member at the University of Waterloo, was awarded the research chair position in 2010, following an independent and competitive application process, administered by theCouncil of Ontario Universities. He is an internationally known scientist in the field of renewable energy. Dr. Sivoththaman and his team are: Dr. Sivoththaman will have access to facilities in related academic departments within the University of Waterloo. He will also collaborate with researchers from the university’s faculty of applied health sciences.
Ontario’s feed-in tariff or FIT Program is North America’s first comprehensive guaranteed pricing structure for renewable electricity production. It offers stable prices under long-term contracts for energy generated from renewable sources, including: The FIT Program was enabled by the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009which was passed into law on May 14, 2009. The Ontario Power Authority is responsible for implementing the program. By encouraging the development of renewable energy in Ontario, the FIT Program will: For an overview of the FIT Program, please click here.
The Green Energy and Green Economy Act triggered the creation of the Renewable Energy Approvals process under the Environmental Protection Act. A Renewable Energy Approval ensures projects meeting Ontario’s standards to protect human health and the environment - standards that are among the strictest in North America, including a 550-metre setback for wind turbines and a 40-decible noise limit.
Click the title above to review the Renewable Energy Approvals regulation in full.
Really. Please ask them questions. Anything you like.
The Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) is one of the five Tribunals within the Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario cluster. The ERT is committed to conducting timely, fair, efficient and impartial hearings that protect the environment and are consistent with the governing legislation.
The ERT functions as a quasi-judicial body, subject to the rules of natural justice and the requirements of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act.
The ERT primary role is adjudicating applications and appeals under various environmental and planning statutes.
The ERT hears applications and appeals under the Clean Water Act, 2006, the Environmental Assessment Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Nutrient Management Act, 2002, the Ontario Water Resources Act, the Pesticides Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009, leave to appeal applications under the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, and matters under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001, and the Greenbelt Act, 2005.
The Environmental Review Tribunal also functions as the Office of Consolidated Hearings to hear applications made under theConsolidated Hearings Act and as the Niagara Escarpment Hearing Office to hear development permit appeals and Niagara Escarpment Plan amendment applications under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act.
Anyone can appeal the approval of a proposed renewable energy project. The Environmental Review Tribunal will have six months to assess whether or not the proposed project will cause serious harm to human health or serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life or the natural environment.
This balances the need for certainty and timeliness of approvals with the need for legitimate concerns to be heard and addressed.
For more information on the Environmental Review Tribunal and how to appeal, please visit www.ert.gov.on.ca.
The Renewable Energy Approvals processed managed by the Ministry of the Environment for all renewable energy projects.
The Renewable Energy Approvals (REA) regulation requires project applicants (developers) to engage the public, municipal governments and Aboriginal communities in consultation about proposed energy projects. In their application packages, developers must document concerns that have been raised by local groups and individuals, and they must describe how these concerns have been addressed. See the diagram of the consultation process by clicking on the title above.
