Water Power in the Far North

April 3rd & 4th, 2012Feed-In Tariff Forum

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

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Outline

1. MNR Roles in Renewable Energy

2. Water Power in the Far North

3. Looking to the Future

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1. MNR Roles in Renewable Energy

Support Ontario’s energy supply needs and transmission plans by making land available for renewable energy

• Ministry of Energy provides provincial energy and transmission policy leadership

• MNR supports by facilitating access to land

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1. MNR Roles in Renewable Energy

• participate in industry led water power environmental assessments

• issue permits and approvals to protect environment and public safety (e.g. Public Lands Act, Lakes & Rivers Improvement Act, Endangered Species Act)

Participate in the review and approval of projects

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1. MNR Roles in Renewable Energy

• Aboriginal and treaty rights – duty to consult

• promote and enable opportunities for Aboriginal economic benefits and participation in renewable energy projects

Aboriginal consultation and opportunities for Aboriginal economic benefits

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2. Water Power in the Far North

• Water power Policy (2004) for all of Ontario

• release of waterpower opportunities – “access” to the land

• includes “northern rivers” and off grid

community policy commitments

• specific requirements to promote Aboriginal community participation and economic benefits

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2. Water Power in the Far North

Northern Rivers

• watersheds of the Severn, Winisk, Attawapiskat, and Albany rivers

• water power development only by Aboriginal communities or their partners

• water power development cap of 25 MW – opportunity to review through land use planning

Northern Rivers

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2. Water Power in the Far North

Northern Rivers

Moose River Basin

• no new waterpower development within the basin until co-planning agreement in place between First Nations and province

Moose River Basin

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2. Water Power in the Far North

Northern Rivers

Moose River BasinFar North Boundary

Far North

• Far North Act (2010) also guides water power development in the Far North

• water power can be enabled through community based land use plans

• if no land use plan is in place, exceptions for development can be made by the Minister

• in the Far North, many water power sites are located within protected areas

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3. Looking to the Future

Provincial decisions on transmissionand energy supply needs

• Long-term energy plan (LTEP) informs us where the province will plan and build transmission, and what types of renewable energy supply are needed

• LTEP identifies priority to connect off-grid communities in the northwest; current lack of transmission infrastructure in Far North

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3. Looking to the Future

Renewable Energy Policy Review

• MNR has committed to reviewing its policy approach to how land is made available to support renewable energy development

• key policy areas of the review include where and how land will be made available for renewable energy development including:

• alignment with provincial energy plans and programs

• policy direction on renewable energy in Far North Act

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Contact Information

Renewable Energy Program

Ministry of Natural Resources

300 Water Street

Peterborough ON K9J 8M5

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Renewable/index.html

Far North Branch

Ministry of Natural Resources

Ontario Government Complex

5520 Hwy 101 East

South Porcupine ON P0N 1H0

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FarNorth/index.html