As the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) undertakes its strategic policy review of renewable energy development on Crown land, MNR will be accepting some new waterpower development applications. On May 20, 2011 the Ministry will begin receiving applications under an interim waterpower opportunity. In support of the research and innovation objectives of the Green Energy Act, this opportunity focuses on small-scale hydroelectric projects that encourage the use of emergent technologies.
Through this opportunity, waterpower development applications will be received for project proposals of one megawatt or less, at greenfield sites and existing water control structures, other than MNR owned dams.
Protocols that will guide the administration of this interim opportunity include:
- Each applicant will be limited to a total of three applications
- Applications will be reviewed by MNR through rolling 30-day application periods
- Applicants will be required to submit specific information related to land ownership
- Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they are optimizing the energy potential for the site(s)
- Applications will not be advanced by MNR through the Crown land site release process until the applicant has secured an energy procurement contract
- In the case of overlapping applications received for the same site, MNR will determine the appropriate applicant for that site at its discretion
MNR will not implement an initial cap on the number of applications received, however, the volume of applications received will be monitored and assessed on an ongoing basis, and a cap may be considered.
Interim Waterpower Opportunity Application Step-by-Step Process:
1. Review the Waterpower Site Release Policy (pdf 62KB) and Waterpower Site Release
Procedure (pdf 288KB) documents
2. Read and comply with the necessary submission requirements (Submission Requirements document, pdf 27KB)
3. Complete a Waterpower Application For Crown Land (pdf 54KB)
4. Review and sign the Waterpower Application Declaration Form (pdf 31KB)
5. Include application fee in the amount of $1000.00 + HST, payable to the ‘Minister of Finance’, with application package
6. Mail completed waterpower application package via courier with tracking capability to:
Renewable Energy Program
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7000, 300 Water St.
Peterborough, Ontario
K9J 8M5
Attention: Business Process Officer
