Construction begins on controversial solar farm near Belmont, Ontario

Construction has now started on a controversial 448 acre solar farm located northwest of the Town of Belmont in Southwestern Ontario.  The farm will cover prime agricultural soils, but is not subject to the current restrictions on use of Class 1, 2 and 3 agricultural soils for large-scale solar projects.  The proponent, First Solar, obtained a contract from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) under the former Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP).  The new prohibition on use of prime agricultural land came into effect only with the new Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Program. 

While the project benefitted from the lack of protection for agricultural land under the old RESOP program, it also took advantage of the new changes to municipal authority brought in under the Green Energy Act.  Under the Green Energy Act legislation, municipalities have little or no ability to challenge the approval of renewable energy projects within their jurisdictions.

World's largest solar farm completed at Sarnia, Ontario

CBC News - Technology and Science - Enbridge completes Sarnia solar farm

Click on the link above to read the CBC News story about the completion of an 80 MW solar project at Sarnia, Ontario. Originally built as a 20 MW facility by First Solar Inc. under the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP) from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), the operation was upgraded by Enbridge Inc. and will continue to be operated by First Solar. The farm consists of 1.3 million panels covering 950 acres. 

Under the new Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program that replaced RESOP, the OPA can no longer enter into contracts for energy generated by ground-mounted solar facilities greater than 100 kW in size that are located on Class 1 and 2 agricultural soils and specialty crop areas.  While larger projects are permitted on Class 3 soils, no more than 500 MW in total in Ontario are permitted.  The prohibition on use of farm land will remain in place until further regulations are prescribed under the Electricity Act, 1998.