All new solar PV FIT projects to meet 60% domestic content requirement under the FIT program
On October 8, 2010, the Ontario Power Authority announced an amendment to its Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) rules that restricts solar PV capacity allocation exempt (CAE) projects (generally those with a capacity between 10 - 500 kW AC) from electing a December 31, 2010 Milestone Commercial Operation Date. Prior to this amendment, section 6.4 of the FIT rules permitted generators with solar PV and wind CAE projects to elect a 2010 (for solar PV) and a 2011 (for wind) milestone date in order to qualify for the lower domestic content requirements under the FIT rules, being 50% for solar PV and 25% for wind. All solar PV projects, including CAE projects, that submit FIT applications after October 8, 2010 will be required to meet the 60% domestic content requirements under the FIT rules. The OPA has stated that this amendment is necessary in light of the time required to complete the FIT application review, project development process steps and FIT contract requirements, all of which is expected to take at least six months.
Wind CAE projects may continue to elect a December 31, 2011 Milestone COD in order to qualify for the 25% domestic content requirement applicable to such projects.
