Ontario to Boost Reliance on Clean Energy by 2007

It is the province's second request for proposals for renewable power as it tries to fulfill a promise to replace older coal-fired plants by the end of 2007 in a bid to reduce pollution.

Ontario hopes to generate 5 percent, or 1,350 megawatts, of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2007, including wind, water, solar, biomass and landfill gas projects.

The government also said it will issue a third request for up to 200 megawatts of power from small and medium-sized renewable energy projects under 20 megawatts.

These will be co-ordinated with the Ministry of Natural Resources' efforts to make publicly owned lands available for water-power development, it said.

In November, Ontario announced 10 renewable energy projects that will provide 395 megawatts of green power.

The province expects to announce the latest round of projects this fall.