According to Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General of the World Wind Energy Association, “the Act promises to be the most advanced piece of renewable energy legislation in North America”. It outlines an ambitious and globally significant strategy to improve conservation programs, promote investment in renewable energy projects through North America's first feed-in tariff programme, and create green jobs. Introduced in November 2008, it forms the cornerstone of the Canadian government’s plan to reducing Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions, while becoming a leader in the emerging global renewable energy sector.
“This is an exciting time for Ontario”, said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence. “Today, Ontario not only takes action on its international obligation to reduce greenhouse gases and pollution, it becomes a leader in an emerging industry.”
A recent report released by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst estimated that 90,000 jobs per year could be created through investments in conservation, renewable energy and upgrades to Ontario's electricity grid. The investment criteria used in the report is similar to the level of investment expected under the new Green Energy and Economy Act.
“Today’s adoption of the Green Energy Act by the Ontario Legislature represents an historic paradigm-shifting legal milestone in the imperative transition to a renewable energy system in North America,” said Dr. Hermann Scheer, General Chair of the World Council of Renewable and Member of the National Parliament of Germany.
“We applaud the government and the NDP members of the Legislature for passing this groundbreaking legislation. Today, Ontario enters a new energy paradigm,” said Deb Doncaster, Campaign Chair of the Green Energy Act Alliance. “The Act is a clear signal to the global renewable energy community that Ontario is open for business.”
