Solar farm expects go-ahead by April

Omniwatt Lakeport Solar Project advances under Ontario's Feed-In Tariff (FIT), with grid connection to the Port Hope hydro station, REA environmental studies, transmission capacity review, and upgraded technology for Hamilton Township on Lake Ontario.

The largest solar farm project in Eastern Ontario, proposed for the lakeshore area east of Cobourg, is moving through the renewable energy approval (REA) process toward construction, company spokesperson Joe Fontana says.

About a dozen Ontario government ministry are reviewing all the issues related to the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program. Next time Omniwatt Lakeport Solar Project returns to Hamilton Township council, it will be to say construction is set to begin on this "world-class facility," Fontana says.

The site is west of the Lakeshore Pentecostal Camp grounds and south of the rail line on 86 acres along the lakeshore. The FIT application to Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is complete and the transmission capacity to feed into the Port Hope hydro station is under review, councillors have been told by Brett Berman, the executive director of Omniwatt Lakeport.

Because theirs is the only candidate and it is nowhere near the station's capacity, Berman says he expects hooking the field of giant solar panels into the electrical grid will receive the required approval by the first of April.

One of two public consultations has already taken place with the rezoning bylaw meeting held last fall, he says.

Studies to be completed for REA include one related to the proximity of Lake Ontario and Cobourg Creek in Eastern Ontario, plus a noise study.

"The creek makes more noise" than the solar farm will, Berman says.

The technology that will be used has been upgraded to obtain a higher energy yield from each solar panel councillors were told. This has reduced the need for a very large transformer.

At this time, 50% Canadian content applies with regard to parts and labour in order to be eligible for the FIT program. As this percentage increases, Northumberland County would be well-positioned for attracting manufacturers and installers such as Canadian Solar, Fontana says.

In response to a question from Deputy Mayor Isabel Hie, Fontana says there will be an education centre "of some sort" on the site in the township.

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