Links

The following is a list of links relevant to the development of renewable energy projects.

• Windpower links
• Waterpower links
• Solar Energy links
• Incentives links
• Environmental Assessment links
• Climate Change links
• Other Resources links

Note: The links provided below does not impart on the Ministry of Natural Resources any endorsement or guarantee of any of the organizations or information found on their respective web sites.

Windpower links

Canadian Centre for Energy Information - Source of information, data and educational materials pertaining to Canada's energy sector and energy-related issues.

Canadian Wind Energy Association (CANWEA) is a non-profit trade association that promotes the appropriate development and application of all aspects of wind energy in Canada, including the creation of a suitable policy environment.

CANWEA also maintains a ‘Small Wind Energy’ site with resources and planning support for those interested in wind turbines with rated capacities under 300 KW.

Re-Energy.ca ‘is a renewable energy project kit that can be downloaded and printed from the world wide web - for free!

Ontario Sustainable Energy Association introduces key aspects of wind power generation for landowners in “Ontario Landowners Guide to Wind Energy”

Ontario Wind Resources Atlas allows you to view colour-coded maps of wind information for any one-square-kilometre area in the province.

Government Offices

Ministry of Natural Resources - For information on other MNR Programs.

MNR Office Locations - Listing of MNR office addresses and phone numbers.

Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure - For more information on the processes and benefits of windpower.

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs provides a fact sheet ‘Electricity Generation Using Small Wind Turbines At Your Home Or Farm’

Canadian Wind Energy Atlas - Environment Canada's Wind Energy Atlas web site.

Natural Resources Canada - Wind Power Production Incentive from Natural Resources Canada

Office of Energy Efficiency - A Canadian government site dedicated to energy efficiency (Natural Resources Canada

Renewable and Electrical Energy Division - A government of Canada site dedicated to renewable energy (Natural Resources Canada)

Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI) - WPPI will provide financial support for the installation of 1,000 megawatts of new capacity over the next five years. The incentive will cover approximately half of the current cost of the premium for wind energy in Canada compared to conventional sources. (Natural Resources Canada)

Natural Resources Canada - To access the Canadian Renewable Energy Network (CanRen) and their Hydroelectric Energy Programs.

EOLE Wind Energy Project - MSC/RPN Project for wind energy resource and prediction. Using complete atmospheric simulation models available at Meteorological Service of Canada for the science of Wind Energy Resources

National Climate Change Secretariat - This site has been created to inform Canadians about how Canadian governments are responding to the challenge of climate change. The goal is to understand how Canada can best respond to climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to current and future impacts.

Natural Resources Canada's Climate Change Strategy - A government of Canada website focusing on climate change information relating to energy, forestry, earth sciences, minerals and metals.

Ministry of the Environment - For information regarding MOE's environmental assessment requirements for electricity projects.

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines - For information regarding mining rights.

Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat - Includes resource kits, online tools and up-to-date information on aboriginal economic development as well as information regarding land claims in Ontario.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency - For information about federal environmental assessment requirements.

Environment Canada - For information about federal environmental legislation.

Navigable Waters Protection Program (Canada Coast Guard) - For information regarding work in, on, over, under, through or across any navigable waterway.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada - For relevant federal legislation, such as the Species at Risk Act.

American Government Sites

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network, US Department of Energy

Renewable Energy Policy Project

Energy Information Administration - EIA

US Department of Energy - Updated DOE Wind Energy Program site with extensive information for all types of individuals interested in wind energy.

American Wind Energy Association

Other Links

Hydro One - For a list of relevant industry links.

Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) - For information regarding the day-to-day operations of Ontario's electrical system.

Connection Assessment and Approval - The IESO administers the connection assessment and approval process for connecting to the electricity grid.

Ontario Energy Board (OEB) - For information regarding the regulation, including licence requirements, of natural gas and electricity facilities.

Ontario Power Authority (OPA) - For information regarding power system planning, generation development, the conservation bureau and retail services for energy customers in Ontario.

Ontario Electricity RFP - The OPA website contains information regarding Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for new generation in Ontario.

Helimax Energy Inc - Helimax is a wind energy consulting company that provided the expertise of meteorology, engineering and project management for the creation of Ontario's wind energy potential assessment as well as overseeing development of the wind energy mapping interface.

inVisu delivers visualization software and services for the scientific community to analyze numerical data and communicate results. InVisu is the developer of the current Ontario wind resource atlas.

Waterpower

Canadian Hydropower Association (CHA) is the national association dedicated to representing the interests of the hydropower industry.

Handbook for Developing Micro Hydro in British Columbia is most relevant for projects with installed capacities of less than approximately 8000 kW. It describes key issues pertaining to micro hydro development and aims to make developers aware of the opportunities and challenges of energy development.

International Small-Hydro Atlas is a database that facilitates the development of new small hydro projects of more than 50 kW and less than 10MW installed capacity. It includes data for potential and developed sites, GIS searching capabilities, country profiles, international contacts for small hydro, and more.

Online Microhydro Training Course - Alternative Energies Ltd. has an online training course that provides advice on how to develop microhydro projects.

Ontario Waterpower Association is a provincial, industry-driven organization interested in developing and expanding waterpower in Ontario.

Solar

Canadian Solar Industries Association is a national organization supported by industry members, the public and government agencies to support, promote and advance all forms of solar energy for the benefit of Canadians and the environment.

The clean air foundation hosts the Go Solar market transformation campaign that provides Ontario residents with the information and links they need to install solar energy systems to heat water or generate electricity.

Solar Energy Society of Canada is a national association dedicated to advancing the awareness, understanding and use of solar energy in Canada.

NRCan Solar Resource Potential web-based maps:  Provides maps of photovoltaic potential and insolation for Canada , as well as a municipality database  which allows  users to rapidly assess the potential of photovoltaics throughout Canada and examine how this potential varies with location, time of year and PV panel orientation.

Incentives

The Community Power Fund's mission is to provide financial and technical support to communities working to develop, build and own renewable energy projects.

Ontario Electricity Requests for Proposals website contains information regarding RFPs for new generation.

Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure’s Net Metering brochure introduces how the province’s net metering regulation allows you to send electricity generated from renewable sources to the electrical grid for a credit toward your energy costs.

Ontario Power Authority’s Standard Offer Program outlines information about how to participate in the program by selling renewable power to the grid at a fixed premium. Under the plan, the Ontario Power Authority will purchase electricity produced by wind, biomass or small hydroelectric for 11 cents per kilowatt-hour and solar for 42 cents.

Renewable Energy Development in Ontario is an overview of renewable energy provincial and federal incentives and programs, with detailed descriptions of tax breaks and incentives for installation of renewable energy production systems in the home, including a number for wind power systems.

Environmental Assessment

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency provides information about the Federal Government’s EA program as well as a link to the on-line registry of projects under review.

Environment Canada provides recommendations for information requirements and environmental effects on migratory birds, forest habitat birds, wetlands and species at risk. It also includes a list of references.

Ministry of the Environment’s “Guide to Environmental Assessments for Electricity Projects” includes requirements for public consultation and environmental study for all electricity projects defined in regulation.

Climate Change

KyotoSmart is a network of provincial and municipal governments, industry, labour, and environmental organizations seeking to ensure that actions to implement the Kyoto Protocol support renewable energy.

Go Green Ontario, a place where you can find out more about climate change and what we all can do to help.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change provides an introductory “Climate Change Information Tool Kit”

Other Resources

Association of Power Producers of Ontario provides information about electricity generation in Canada and now incorporates the website previously known as "Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems in Canada".

Bullfrog Power is the only electricity retailer in Ontario that buys power exclusively from wind and low-impact hydro generators who meet or exceed the federal government's Environmental Choice Program EcoLogo standard for renewable electricity

Canadian Centre for Energy Information is a source of information, data and educational materials pertaining to Canada's energy sector and energy-related issues.

Canadian Renewable Energy Network (CanREN) was created through the efforts of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and its stakeholders to increase the understanding of renewable energy and to accelerate the development and commercialization of renewable energy technologies.

Energy conservation and efficiency supply - Fact sheet to assist decision-makers to implement the policies of the Provincial Policy Statement. Prepared by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Environmental Choice Program - Ecologo is North America's most widely recognized and respected multi-attribute environmental certification mark and helps environmental marketers win customers, and helps buyers - both consumer and corporate - find and trust sustainable products.

Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) provides information regarding the day-to-day operations of Ontario 's electrical system, and administers the connection assessment and approval process for connecting to the electricity grid.

Learning for Sustainability - Provides a practical resource for those who work with communities to help identify and adopt more sustainable practices.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Supply InfoSheet (4 pages) is a summary of Policy 1.8 of the Provincial Policy Statement, 2005. It explains the importance of planning for Ontario’s energy supply including renewable , alternative energy.

Ontario Energy Board (OEB) provides information regarding the regulation, including licence requirements, of natural gas and electricity facilities.

Ontario Power Authority (OPA) provides information regarding power system planning, generation development, the conservation bureau and retail services for energy customers in Ontario.

Ontario Conserves is a website dedicated to Ontario’s strategy for a new culture of conservation.

Ontario Sustainable Energy Association is an umbrella organization formed to implement community sustainable energy projects across Ontario.

Pembina Institute maintains a Sustainable Energy program works at both federal and provincial/territorial levels to achieve policy and energy market changes that support the growth of "sustainable energy" in Canada.

Pollution Probe provides information about energy efficiency, energy from renewables and emission reductions from generating plants, including useful ‘primers’ publications which introduce a wide variety of renewable energy topics.

Re-Energy.ca is a renewable energy project kit that can be downloaded and printed - great for teachers.

RETscreen International - The Clean Energy Decision Support Centre of Natural Resources Canada provides decision-support tools, including software to implement microhydro projects.