Ontario has suspended its 930MW renewable energy procurement program, stranding dozens of development-stage wind and solar projects.
The decision to halt the large renewable procurement phase 2 (LRP 2), plus the energy-from-waste standard offer program, is expected to save the Canadian province up to $3.8bn in electricity system costs.
Ontario’s government has repeatedly come under fire for rising electricity bills.
The move follows release of a review by the Independent Electricity System Operator, which said Ontario has a “robust supply of electricity over the coming decade to meet projected demand”.
The LRP 2 program was designed to procure 600MW of wind, 250MW of solar photovoltaic, 50MW of hydroelectricity and 30MW of bioenergy.
In March, Ontario selected 16 projects for a total 455MW of renewable energy capacity in the LRP 1 program.
The province will begin stakeholder consultations in autumn on a new long-term energy plan, which is to be released in 2017.
“Our decision to suspend these procurements is not one we take lightly,” said energy minister Glenn Thibeault. “The typical residential electricity consumer would save an average of approximately C$2.45 per month on their electricity bill, relative to previous forecasts.”
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Ontario halts renewables round
Suspension of LRP 2 procurement program strands 930MW of projects
By EBS