FIT program gives SunEdison a jump start

STONE MILLS, ONTARIO - SunEdison has announced that it will be more than doubling its Canadian workforce in 2010, crediting OntarioÂ’s feed-in-tariff (FIT) program.

SunEdison has a strong foothold in Canada as an owner/operator of CanadaÂ’s first solar PV energy park, First Light, a 9.1MW project located in Stone Mills, Ontario. SunEdison will be hiring for the following positions in Canada during the first quarter of 2010:

• Regional Operations Managers;

• Project Managers;

• Project Superintendents;

• Assistant Project Superintendents;

• Electrical Engineers;

• Project Engineers;

• Project Coordinators;

• Safety Coordinators;

• Logistics/Buyers;

• Cost Accountants;

• CAD Drafters;

• Sales Managers.

In addition, SunEdison continues its active discussions with Canadian developers to expand strategic partnership agreements on projects.

According to Jason Gray, director of Canadian operations for SunEdison, “We are excited to be ramping up to meet the opportunities the FIT program in Ontario offers and to continue work on our established RESOP projects. As a solar company committed to the Ontario market, we will establish local supply agreements and the necessary operations and maintenance teams to build out our pipeline. Moreover, we will commit financial resources to local developers through project partnerships.”

Ontario's feed-in tariff or FIT Program is North America's first comprehensive guaranteed pricing structure for renewable electricity production. It offers stable prices under long-term contracts for energy generated from renewable sources, including PV solar.

The FIT Program was enabled by the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 which was passed into law on May 14. The Ontario Power Authority is responsible for implementing the program.