Bill 150, the Green Energy Act, will directly affect lawyers all over Ontario, including those in the environmental, energy, municipal, and natural resource fields. As a result, the Ontario Bar Association is preparing detailed comments that will address at least the following issues:
- The new renewable energy approvals, which will allow green energy projects to be built regardless of zoning, building code and similar restrictions, subject to provincial regulations on setbacks, etc.
- The rights of appeal objectors to such projects should have, including the heavy onus of proof put on objectors by proposed section 145.2 .1(3) of the Environmental Protection Act.
- The right to connect green energy projects to the electrical grid at public expense and the creation of renewable energy cooperatives.
- The guaranteed feed in tariff for green power, the environmental attributes of such power, and the special pricing for community- generated power.
- The Environmental Bill of Rights amendments and public access to information.
- The impact of increased electrical rates on low income families.
- The implications for First Nations, especially in relation to small hydro development, and possibly
- Mandatory energy audits and disclosure on the sale of real estate.
As the Environmental Law Section’s Public Affairs chair, Dianne will be quarterbacking the submission.