001-42 EJQR05 SUMMER25 PT - Flipbook - Page 8
THE INDEPENDENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OPERATOR (IESO), the operator
of the Ontario power system, with support from the government of Ontario,
recently decided to invite an entire new category of energy entrepreneurs
into its electricity contract market—small scale generators. This move can be
expected to stimulate competition while signi昀椀cantly widening the options
available to energy consumers.
“The new generation stream opens the door for something even more exciting:
building new, community-owned renewable energy projects,” says John
Kirkwood, President of OREC, the Ottawa Renewable Energy Cooperative. “This
is the kind of policy we’ve been waiting for. It not only keeps our current projects
viable, but also gives us the opportunity to grow and develop new, meaningful
infrastructure in collaboration with our members and communities.”
ONTARIO WILL BENEFIT FROM
NEW AND RE-CONTRACTED
COMMUNITY SOLAR ENERGY SITES,
ACCORDING TO THE OTTAWA
RENEWABLE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.
On April 23, more than 200 interested parties joined
the IESO’s 昀椀rst webinar on the new Local Generation
Program. The wide range of proponents is seen as an
indication that there will be no shortage of willing
participants once the program is up and running in
2026. The IESO plans to host monthly consultation
meetings throughout most of 2025 as it 昀椀nalizes the
details of the new program.
IESO STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT SESSION
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • S UM M ER 2 02 5 • P AGE 8
