1. Canada: Policy Update 2011-2012 Michael Paunescu Natural Resources Canada
RETD - 15th ExCo meeting
London, April 18, 2012

2. Strong federal government leadership
Early federal government RE initiatives (PERR, MIP, WPPI, ecoRP) spurred a host of provincial initiatives and programs (e.g. RFP, RPS, SOP, FIT)
Tax measures expanded and extended to 2020 (ACCA under Class 43.2, CRCE)
Coal regulations: announced in August 2011, to be published later this year
ecoENERGY for Innovation Initiative: $97 million over two years for RD&D clean energy projects
Budget 2012 (selected themes)
Responsible resources development
Reforming the regulatory system in the resources sector
One project, one review; ensure safety and security of Canadians and the environment
Responsible expenditure management
Ongoing savings of $5.2 billion by
Return to balanced budget in
The Government is committed to reducing unnecessary spending by focusing on providing programs that are consistent with federal roles and responsibilities, ensuring programs are delivered by those best positioned to do so, and refocusing program funding based on achievable objectives and the needs of Canadians.

4. Original FIT price (¢/kWh)
Provincial update: Ontario 2-year FIT review
Program target: 10,700 MW by 2015
Progress to date: 4,850 MW (47.8%) in different stages of project development
Fuel
Project Size
Original FIT price (¢/kWh)
New FIT price (¢/kWh)
% Change
Solar
rooftop
≤10kW
80.2
54.9
-31.5%
> 10 ≤ 100 kW*
71.3
54.8
-23.1%
> 100 ≤ 500 kW*
63.5
53.9
-15.1%
> 500kW
48.7
-9.6%
ground
mounted
64.2
44.5
-30.7%
44.3
38.8
-12.4%
> 500 ≤ 5 MW*
35.0
-21.0%
> 5 MW
34.7
-21.7%
Wind
All sizes
13.5
11.5
-14.8%
* New project size

5. Provincial update: Nova Scotia COMFIT
Program target: ~300 GWh (~100 MW)
Progress to date: 95 applications; 20 approved (50 MW)
COMFIT = Community Feed-in Tariff
community-owned
connected to the distribution lines
< 6 MW – no solar PV!
Feed-in tariff for Developmental Tidal Arrays
in-stream tidal devices in units greater than 0.5 MW or in arrays
Fuel
COMFIT price (¢/kWh)
Wind (<50 kW)
49.9*
Wind (>50 kW)
13.1
Biomass CHP
17.5
Run-of-river hydro 14
In-stream tidal
65.2*
At this time, solar PV is not an eligible technology under COMFIT. Solar energy is more efficiently used to heat air and water than to produce electricity. The high costs of generating electricity through solar PV would require a high feed-in tariff that would then have to be subsidized by ratepayers. The province has judged that the costs of including solar PV would outweigh the benefits.
However, solar PV is eligible under the Enhanced Net Metering program run by Nova Scotia Power. The province will also reassess the role of solar PV technology during the 18 month review of the COMFIT program scheduled for 2012.
* Amongst the highest small wind and tidal FIT rates in the world