Ontario’s Main Street Recovery Plan Opens the Door to Community Net Metering

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Dec 15, 2020

Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, the Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, this week introduced the Main Street Recovery Act, 2020, which would enable Community Net Metering demonstration projects to help support local communities to develop innovative community projects like net-zero or community micro-grids that use small-scale energy systems including renewable generation.

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association applauds this initiative as it envisions the creation of a regulatory framework that would provide Ontarians with an opportunity to support economic recovery through the deployment of distributed solar energy projects in their community when they are not able to install such technologies at their own household, business or institution. Such projects are exceptionally effective at quickly creating jobs and stimulating investment while at the same time supporting carbon emissions reduction and community resilience.

“Our association looks forward to working with the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines on the details of this important initiative in the days to come.”

“There are many Ontarians who are keen to have their homes and businesses powered by solar energy but do not have the roof space on-site to install this technology. A community net metering framework would enable more people to benefit from solar energy deployment within the community while also creating local jobs and investment”, said Nicholas Gall, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources.

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