Ontario Jennifer Keyes/Kevin Edwards OMNR GLWC Offshore Wind Workgroup Advancing Regional Collaboration Webinar September 24, 2009.

OntarioOntario

Jennifer Keyes/Kevin Edwards OMNRJennifer Keyes/Kevin Edwards OMNR

GLWC Offshore Wind WorkgroupGLWC Offshore Wind WorkgroupAdvancing Regional Collaboration Advancing Regional Collaboration

WebinarWebinarSeptember 24, 2009September 24, 2009

Ontario’s Interest in Offshore Ontario’s Interest in Offshore Wind DevelopmentWind Development• Ontario supports offshore wind development and it is a Ontario supports offshore wind development and it is a

technology supported under Ontario’s recently passed technology supported under Ontario’s recently passed Green Energy Act Green Energy Act www.mei.gov.on.ca.wsd6.korax.net/english/energy/gea/www.mei.gov.on.ca.wsd6.korax.net/english/energy/gea/

• OMNR’s Windpower Site Release Policy makes the beds of OMNR’s Windpower Site Release Policy makes the beds of the Great Lakes available for Wind development the Great Lakes available for Wind development www.extranet.mnr.gov.on.cawww.extranet.mnr.gov.on.ca))

• The province’s proposed FIT Program will incent offshore The province’s proposed FIT Program will incent offshore wind at $.19/Kwhwind at $.19/Kwh

• The Ontario Wind Resources Atlas includes data layers The Ontario Wind Resources Atlas includes data layers related to offshore - related to offshore - www.ontariowindatlas.cawww.ontariowindatlas.ca

• The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) completed a study – The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) completed a study – Analysis of Future Offshore Wind Development in Ontario Analysis of Future Offshore Wind Development in Ontario which identifiedwhich identified 60+ offshore sites - 60+ offshore sites - www.powerauthority.on.cawww.powerauthority.on.ca

Identified Ontario Offshore ResourcesIdentified Ontario Offshore Resources

Current or Proposed Offshore Current or Proposed Offshore ProjectsProjects•The beds of all lakes and rivers in Ontario are The beds of all lakes and rivers in Ontario are Crown (Public) land – 87% of land mass and MNR Crown (Public) land – 87% of land mass and MNR currently has 70+ applications for offshore wind currently has 70+ applications for offshore wind development sitesdevelopment sites• Trillium Power Corp. has proposed a 700 MW Trillium Power Corp. has proposed a 700 MW wind farm for the Duck Island area of Lake wind farm for the Duck Island area of Lake Ontario www.trilliumpower.comOntario www.trilliumpower.com Toronto Hydro has proposed a 50+ MW wind Toronto Hydro has proposed a 50+ MW wind farm for just offshore of the City and has recently farm for just offshore of the City and has recently completed their EA to proceed with a testing completed their EA to proceed with a testing platform platform www.torontohydroenergy.com/generation_offshorwww.torontohydroenergy.com/generation_offshore.htmle.html Southpoint Wind has initiated their EA for a Southpoint Wind has initiated their EA for a proposed 30 MW in Lake Erie near Leamington proposed 30 MW in Lake Erie near Leamington www.southpointwind.comwww.southpointwind.com

Inter-Jurisdictional Inter-Jurisdictional CollaborationCollaboration• OMNR is a founding member of the OMNR is a founding member of the

GLWCGLWC• Under the auspices of the GLWC OMNR is Under the auspices of the GLWC OMNR is

working with Great lakes Border states working with Great lakes Border states and the province of Quebec to share best and the province of Quebec to share best practice, guidance and policy practice, guidance and policy

• OMNR is also working collaboratively with OMNR is also working collaboratively with other Canadian provinces and the other Canadian provinces and the Canadian federal governmentCanadian federal government

Regulations/Policies/Laws Regulations/Policies/Laws Affecting Offshore Wind Affecting Offshore Wind Development and Agency Development and Agency Responsible with OversightResponsible with Oversight• Under OMNR’s Site Release Policy proponents can apply for Under OMNR’s Site Release Policy proponents can apply for

offshore sites for proposed wind farms offshore sites for proposed wind farms • Leases are granted for sites under the Ontario Public Lands Leases are granted for sites under the Ontario Public Lands

Act and through associated regulationsAct and through associated regulations• Ontario is proposing a streamlined approach to permitting Ontario is proposing a streamlined approach to permitting

and approvals based on clear, up-front, and integrated and approvals based on clear, up-front, and integrated requirements for Provincial Ministry approvals and permits, requirements for Provincial Ministry approvals and permits, including:including:– A Renewable Energy Approval regulation established by the A Renewable Energy Approval regulation established by the

Ministry of Environment (see www.ene.gov.on.ca); andMinistry of Environment (see www.ene.gov.on.ca); and– Approval and Permitting Requirements established by the Approval and Permitting Requirements established by the

OMNR (see www.mnr.gov.on.ca) OMNR (see www.mnr.gov.on.ca) • The proposed process is intended to streamline approvals The proposed process is intended to streamline approvals

while continuing to ensure the protection of public health while continuing to ensure the protection of public health and safety and the natural environmentand safety and the natural environment

Transmission of Offshore Wind Transmission of Offshore Wind EnergyEnergy

• Under Ontario’s proposed Feed-in Tariff Under Ontario’s proposed Feed-in Tariff Program proposed generation projects Program proposed generation projects will be identified & prioritized will be identified & prioritized

• Once critical generating mass is Once critical generating mass is identified in an area then the Ontario identified in an area then the Ontario Power Authority will plan for the Power Authority will plan for the necessary transmission enhancement or necessary transmission enhancement or development and seek necessary development and seek necessary approvalsapprovals

Public OutreachPublic Outreach• The proposed new approval process enabled under The proposed new approval process enabled under

the Green Energy and Green Economy Act is the Green Energy and Green Economy Act is currently being developed – part of this was a public currently being developed – part of this was a public comment period on requirements where the comment period on requirements where the province received 1000+ commentsprovince received 1000+ comments

• Part of the proposed requirements of the Renewable Part of the proposed requirements of the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) regulation would require an Energy Approval (REA) regulation would require an applicant to hold at least two public meetings and applicant to hold at least two public meetings and address concerns raised in these meetingsaddress concerns raised in these meetings

• The decision on issuing an REA could also be The decision on issuing an REA could also be appealed to the province’s Environmental Review appealed to the province’s Environmental Review TribunalTribunal

• As part of the new approval process Ontario will also As part of the new approval process Ontario will also continue to meet its constitutional responsibility to continue to meet its constitutional responsibility to notify and enter into consultation with Aboriginal notify and enter into consultation with Aboriginal communities communities

Public TrustPublic Trust

• Outreach and Education Outreach and Education

• Investment in science and research - Investment in science and research - including the proposal to establish an including the proposal to establish an independent Research Chair, and setbacks independent Research Chair, and setbacks and standards related to noise and the and standards related to noise and the natural environmentnatural environment

• Adaptive management - including proposed Adaptive management - including proposed provisions under the new approval process provisions under the new approval process that enable the government to establish that enable the government to establish mitigation and monitoring requirementsmitigation and monitoring requirements

Obstacles to Offshore Wind Obstacles to Offshore Wind DevelopmentDevelopment

• Public concern has been expressed Public concern has been expressed with regard to proposed offshore with regard to proposed offshore projects with regard to projects with regard to environmental and view scape issuesenvironmental and view scape issues

• Offshore projects face technical Offshore projects face technical challenges as well (e.g. transmission, challenges as well (e.g. transmission, construction infrastructure) construction infrastructure)

Regional CollaborationRegional Collaboration

• Fisheries GuidanceFisheries Guidance

• Bird and Bat GuidanceBird and Bat Guidance

• Policy DevelopmentPolicy Development

• Project SitingProject Siting

• Public Engagement Public Engagement

• Ice ResearchIce Research

Other Issues or Observations?Other Issues or Observations?

• It is unclear what impact planned It is unclear what impact planned financial and other policy incentives financial and other policy incentives will have on demand for offshore will have on demand for offshore wind siteswind sites

• Opportunity for policy alignment Opportunity for policy alignment within the GLB to support a bio-within the GLB to support a bio-region based approach region based approach

• Opportunity to share costs of gaining Opportunity to share costs of gaining required ecological data required ecological data