Canadian Supermarket Chain Goes Solar
Loblaw Company, Canada's largest chain of supermarkets, has big plans to take advantage of the province of Ontario's generous feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar power. A press release from Loblaw announced yesterday that the Ontario Power Authority had approved applications for solar installations on more than 100 supermarkets. Loblaw's parade of solar installations will start with four systems under a pilot project and eventual plans to install the rest.
The impetus for the move is a very lucrative FIT passed under Ontario's Green Energy Act. That law allows grid-connected solar power systems to reap anywhere from 53.9 to 80.2 cents (Can) per kWh under 20-year contracts. At ridiculously generous rates like that, it's a wonder that solar panels aren't sprouting wings and flying onto rooftops in the province.
"These projects will create a new source of income for businesses while providing new clean and green electricity in Ontario, particularly on hot, sunny summer days when demand soars," said Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. "With our new domestic content rules, these projects will also help create new green collar jobs here in Ontario as well as major economic investments in equipment and services here at home."
It's the sort of speech we hear all the time from government officials these days, but with such a high tariff it's hard to argue against anything Duguid said. In fact, it's a good bet solar power and solar jobs will be coming fast to Ontario, especially with summer just a few months away.
Loblaw is installing the panels to fulfill its goals for corporate social responsibility, which include a respect for the environment. The company is also taking steps to reduce company waste, including an effort to divert plastic bags from the landfill, and other projects that include a move to sustainable building that meets LEED standards.
The first four solar systems will be on stores in Ajax, Orleans, Whitby and Toronto. And while Loblaw may have to contend with snow on the panels in winter time, perhaps sweeping snowy panels will add one more green job to the Canadian workforce.
The only fear with such a high FIT is a repetition of what happened in Spain, where a massive and unsustainable bubble was created that, when burst, caused a major crash in that country's solar industry. Let's hope that Ontario has something else up its sleeve. 80 cents/kWh? Wow.
Photo and Story: Treehugger
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