Ontario introduces proposal system for wind energy Wednesday, December 4, 2013 by SUSAN MANN The Ontario government plans to introduce a new type of procurement for wind energy next year, says Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli. The new procurement will start in the first quarter of 2014 and be based on a request or proposal system. The procurement for wind will be more targeted and controlled than it was under the Feed in Tariff (FIT) program. “We’ve taken wind out of the FIT program,” he told southwestern Ontario reporters during a telephone press conference Wednesday afternoon held to discuss the government’s recently released long term energy plan. To win a contract, successful companies will need to have a “significant engagement with the municipality where it’s going to be sited,” he says. Municipalities won’t have an absolute veto on wind energy projects going into their area, but it will be very difficult for a “proponent to win a contact.” Chiarelli says municipalities aren’t given an absolute veto because there are times when generation capacity or transmission lines must be planned regionally whether the energy is renewable or not. If two or three connected municipalities had a veto over energy infrastructure, “you wouldn’t be able to move a transmission line across a county or even across two counties. There has to be some fail safe way for us to say, ‘Everybody’s got to do their share.’” In the current energy mix used and distributed in Ontario, renewable energy including wind represents less than four per cent, Chiarelli says. Another initiative in the government’s long-term energy plan is financial help for municipalities to generate energy plans. Municipalities must realize that if they’re going to expand subdivisions and build new commercial/industrial property, that will need more electricity and they can’t simply say they’ll let the generation happen in someone else’s backyard, he explains. “There has to be a certain merging of energy planning between the municipal sector and the provincial sector. This new long term plan creates that marriage of planning,” he says. BF Guilty: jury convicts Pigeon King of fraud Ontario's revamped energy plan has an ag focus
University of Guelph looking for new OAC Dean Tuesday, November 12, 2024 A position has opened at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC). The OAC is looking for a new Dean to lead the school into the future. The ideal candidate is “a visionary leader who shares its commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and who... Read this article online
Women Agriculture Leaders Embrace Innovation and Growth Monday, November 11, 2024 By Deanna Ciaccia The future of agriculture depends on diverse leadership that can drive innovation and address the sector's evolving challenges. Women are already at the forefront of this transformation, leading advancements in agtech, sustainable farming practices, and... Read this article online
40 Agriculture Groups Urge Senate to Reject Bill C-282 Sunday, November 10, 2024 Forty of Canada's leading agriculture and agri-food groups sent a letter today to the Senate urging them to reject Bill C-282. Bill C-282 is an Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management). "This bill risks handcuffing Canada’s... Read this article online
Lift heavy equipment with ease - TG Equipment Jack Sunday, November 10, 2024 Byline: Denise Faguy The TG Equipment Jack is a heavy-duty lifting device designed for large high clearance sprayers. This Cool Tools’ innovative design ensures secure and stable lifting of heavy equipment, making it an essential tool for repairs and tire changes. Key... Read this article online
Ontario’s Best in Agri-Food Excellence 2024 Thursday, November 7, 2024 Ontario celebrates excellence in agriculture and food sector achievements The Government of Ontario is celebrating the achievements of outstanding contributors in the agriculture and food industry through the 2024 Excellence in Agriculture Awards. This year’s awards recognize 13... Read this article online