New funding program to support the participation of communities and organizations in renewable energy projects

TORONTO, June 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has launched the Energy Partnerships Program (EPP), designed to support Indigenous communities, co-operatives, municipalities and public sector entities to participate in Ontario's clean energy economy. 

The program encourages local partnerships, helps communities create economic development opportunities and supports a high level of local community engagement, participation and investment in energy projects. The EPP consists of two funding streams:

Partnership Stream

• For Indigenous communities, funding for the legal, technical and financial due diligence work to develop partnerships on Feed-in Tariff (FIT), Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) and identified transmission projects.
• For municipalities, co-operatives and public sector entities, funding for legal, technical and financial due diligence work to develop FIT projects.

Project Development Stream

• Funding for Indigenous communities, municipalities, co-operatives and public sector entities to assist with the soft costs associated with developing FIT projects, such as obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals.
• This stream also includes a Remote Project Development Sub-Stream -- available to identified remote First Nations communities (those that have been identified as uneconomic to connect to the IESO controlled grid) – to assist with costs for developing energy-based solutions to reduce diesel dependency in these communities.

The EPP builds on the success of its four separate former funding programs, which combined have supported 776 projects and have leveraged over $20 million in secured funding to date.

Click here to read more about how the former programs have supported Indigenous communities, municipalities, public sector entities and co-operatives in the design and delivery of renewable energy initiatives.

"Our funding programs have been very successful," said Bruce Campbell, IESO CEO. "By evolving these programs to be streamlined under one set of rules and a consistent funding framework, the new Energy Partnerships Program will build on that success, and further strengthen the assistance available to applicants. For example, eligibility has been expanded to those developing multiple projects, and we have also expanded the eligible costs for community engagement activities."

"The new EPP will build upon the strengths of the former programs and better support our important stakeholders as they help to bring the needed access to renewable energy across Ontario. I am looking forward to seeing the benefits of these improvements in action," said Glenn Thibeault, Ontario Minister of Energy.

Applications for the Energy Partnerships Program are now being accepted. For more information about the program, rules and eligibility, please visit the Energy Partnerships Program webpage on the IESO's website, found at www.ieso.ca/EPP. 

About the IESO

The IESO manages the province's power system so that Ontarians receive power when and where they need it. It plans and prepares for future electricity needs and works with its partners to guide conservation efforts. For more information, please visit www.ieso.ca.

SOURCE Independent Electricity System Operator

IESO Media Contact: John Cannella, 416-506-2823, [email protected]