Clearview adopts alternative energy protocol
The Township of Clearview has been inundated with inquiries from applicants interested in large-scale renewable energy projects since a provincial request-for-proposal submission stage opened this month.
As a result, council has approved a protocol and criteria for dealing with such requests.
“The phone has been ringing off the hook with people who want to do solar projects,” said the township’s director of planning and development, Michael Wynia.
The procurement process, through the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), relates to wind, solar and biogas generating 500 kw or more. Smaller projects are handled through other programs.
The submission deadline is Sept. 1. So far, the township has not received any inquiries about wind projects or biogas, just solar.
The protocol approved by Clearview councillors Monday aims to ensure the township is informed and in control of where projects would be located, preserving prime agricultural lands and diversifying underused or contaminated lands.
“What we hope we are doing is getting fair information so that when they go back to the province to get points, the township has been consulted. Given the township’s past experience, this is a good practice,” said Wynia.
IESO has attached a point system to the approval process. Applicants are awarded points for consultation with the township or a group within the township and the more points they get, the more likely they are to get a contract, said Wynia. Through the protocol, council will decide whether or not points are awarded.
“The province kicks these things out and they give little time to respond,” said Wynia.
He said Clearview has been working to prepare for this process but other municipalities may be taken off guard.
Council Shawn Davidson was the only councillor to oppose the protocol saying that he didn’t want to create another layer of bureaucracy to slow development.
At the same meeting Monday, council renewed its blanket endorsement of rooftop solar projects, removing a layer of red tape for those doing small scale projects.
