Latest news with #OntarioCleanAirAlliance
National Observer
5 days ago
- Business
- National Observer
Solar panels are more affordable than ever - but it can depend on where you live
When she looked into installing solar panels on her roof, Heather McDiarmid came across an unexpected hitch. 'We realized we'd have to tear out the panels again a few years after we put them in because our roof was getting old, and it was going to need new shingles. So we got our roof redone — but with metal shingles. That way it would last longer. And then we got our PV (photovoltaic) system,' said McDiarmid, a climate change mitigation consultant. Solar panels have never been cheaper, and the lower upfront cost means homeowners can recoup their investment more quickly, with savings on electricity bills. But experts say where buyers live plays the largest role in how long they'll need to break even. Location plays into factors ranging from how much electricity the home consumes to how much sun it receives, what incentives are available and even whether foliage obstructs the sunlight — or if roof renovations are needed. Across Canada, the average installation cost for solar panels was $3.34 per watt as of fall 2023, or $25,050 for a typical 7.5-kilowatt system, which covers most of an average household's electricity needs, according to But the price can range widely, sitting as low as $2.42 per watt in Ontario but double that in Nunavut. In Ontario, the average homeowner with a bigger installation — 10 kW — enjoys annual electricity bill savings of about $1,584 when charged at time-of-use rates, according to a report McDiarmid authored for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance last year. That means an Ontarian, drawing on a new provincial grant of up to $5,000 plus an interest-free federal Greener Homes loan, might effectively pay $25,000 for a 10 kW system. If their electricity bill comes to $100 a month — $1,200 a year — the panels would pay for themselves in 16 years. Solar panels have never been cheaper, and the lower upfront cost means homeowners can recoup their investment more quickly, with savings on electricity bills. 'Many single-family home rooftops can accommodate a 10 kW solar array or more, which is enough to generate as much electricity as the home uses over a year,' McDiarmid writes. Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which then flows through an "inverter" to be used in the home, with excess electricity spilling onto the broader power grid. Savings come not just from consuming less energy from the local utility but from "net metering," which allows homeowners to receive credits for the extra electricity they feed back onto the grid. Banking electricity daily, monthly and often yearly is typical, said Joshua Pearce, a Western University professor specializing in solar photovoltaic technology. 'People go to their cottage during the summer, they generate a huge amount of solar power that then lasts them through the winter. They've banked that electricity,' he said. Other key questions include how much electricity your household uses — higher consumption builds a bigger case for solar — and how much that costs, with rates varying from region to region. Another factor to consider: electric heaters suck up much more electricity than gas-heated homes. 'Essentially, everywhere that breaks the 12-cents-per-kWh bar, it probably makes sense to put in solar,' said Pearce. All provinces except Quebec charge a higher rate on average, according to Also pertinent is not just where your home sits within Canada, but within the property itself. A roof that faces south soaks up more rays, while a flatter pitch further improves efficiency. 'I've got half my garage covered (with solar panels) because that's the south-facing roof, and then a third of my main roof covered, that's my southwest-facing side of the building. That's what captures the most amount of sun, so you get the most bang for your buck,' said Phil McKay, a senior director at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. Installers can help with assessing where branches might need to be cut to absorb more light — though not all trees are yours to prune. 'I'm talking to you from the Forest City, and I love trees as much as the next guy, but not when they're partially shading my roof,' said Pearce from London, Ont., noting that many of those trunks are owned by neighbours or the city. Another key variable in solar energy production is just how sun-kissed your corner of the country is. The Prairie provinces enjoy the most hours of 'equivalent full sunlight hours' — a metric to quantify the amount of solar radiation for a given area in a year — followed by Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. British Columbia, the Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador rank last. Cost differences to link up to the power grid also vary widely. In Ontario, for example, the Ottawa utility charged $1,449 to connect panels with its grid in 2023, while in Sudbury, the charge was only $548, according to McDiarmid. Jurisdictions offer an assortment of financial incentives. BC Hydro and Ontario give residential users rebates of up to $5,000 on grid-connected solar panels and up to $5,000 for battery storage systems. Nova Scotians can tap into rebates of up to $3,000, Prince Edward Island residents $10,000 (the program is on hold for a review, but is expected to resume in the coming months). Many municipalities have rebates for various home energy upgrades as well. A checklist to run through if you're considering rooftop solar: - Check your utility bill to tally how much you spend on electricity each year. In general, the more you shell out, the greater the possible savings from a photovoltaic system. - Check the average rate your utility charges for electricity. Again, the higher the rate, the more potential savings accrue. - Shop around for quotes from at least two or three installation firms. If their estimates on the long-term savings roughly align, those projections are probably not far off the mark. - Make sure the size of the installation matches your electricity demands. Don't splurge on a system that exceeds your needs. - Ask how efficient your system will be due to the slant of your roof and the directions it faces. - Research how much sun and snow your region receives. - Find out whether your municipality requires building and electrical permits to install solar panels. Many cities do, with the combined cost often topping $1,000.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Are solar panels worth the investment? Yes — usually — but it depends where you live
MONTREAL - When she looked into installing solar panels on her roof, Heather McDiarmid came across an unexpected hitch. 'We realized we'd have to tear out the panels again a few years after we put them in because our roof was getting old and it was going to need new shingles. So we got our roof redone — but with metal shingles. That way it would last longer. And then we got our PV (photovoltaic) system,' said McDiarmid, a climate change mitigation consultant. Solar panels have never been cheaper, and the lower upfront cost means homeowners can recoup their investment more quickly, with savings on electricity bills. But experts say where buyers live plays the largest role in how long they'll need to break even. Location plays into factors ranging from how much electricity the home consumes to how much sun it receives, what incentives are available and even whether foliage obstructs the sunlight — or if roof renovations are needed. Across Canada, the average installation cost for solar panels was $3.34 per watt as of fall 2023, or $25,050 for a typical 7.5-kilowatt system, which covers most of an average household's electricity needs, according to . But the price can range widely, sitting as low as $2.42 per watt in Ontario but double that in Nunavut. In Ontario, the average homeowner with a bigger installation — 10 kW — enjoys annual electricity bill savings of about $1,584 when charged at time-of-use rates, according to a report McDiarmid authored for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance last year. That means an Ontarian, drawing on a new provincial grant of up to $5,000 plus an interest-free federal Greener Homes loan, might effectively pay $25,000 for a 10 kW system. If their electricity bill comes to $100 a month — $1,200 a year — the panels would pay for themselves in 16 years. 'Many single-family home rooftops can accommodate a 10 kW solar array or more, which is enough to generate as much electricity as the home uses over a year,' McDiarmid writes. Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which then flows through an 'inverter' to be used in the home, with excess electricity spilling onto the broader power grid. Savings come not just from consuming less energy from the local utility but from 'net metering,' which allows homeowners to receive credits for the extra electricity they feed back onto the grid. Banking electricity daily, monthly and often yearly is typical, said Joshua Pearce, a Western University professor specializing in solar photovoltaic technology. 'People go to their cottage during the summer, they generate a huge amount of solar power that then lasts them through the winter. They've banked that electricity,' he said. Other key questions include how much electricity your household uses — higher consumption builds a bigger case for solar — and how much that costs, with rates varying from region to region. Another factor to consider: electric heaters suck up much more electricity than gas-heated homes. 'Essentially, everywhere that breaks the 12-cents-per-kWh bar, it probably makes sense to put in solar,' said Pearce. All provinces except Quebec charge a higher rate on average, according to . Also pertinent is not just where your home sits within Canada, but within the property itself. A roof that faces south soaks up more rays, while a flatter pitch further improves efficiency. 'I've got half my garage covered (with solar panels) because that's the south-facing roof, and then a third of my main roof covered, that's my southwest-facing side of the building. That's what captures the most amount of sun, so you get the most bang for your buck,' said Phil McKay, a senior director at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. Installers can help with assessing where branches might need to be cut to absorb more light — though not all trees are yours to prune. 'I'm talking to you from the Forest City, and I love trees as much as the next guy, but not when they're partially shading my roof,' said Pearce from London, Ont., noting that many of those trunks are owned by neighbours or the city. Another key variable in solar energy production is just how sun-kissed your corner of the country is. The Prairie provinces enjoy the most hours of 'equivalent full sunlight hours' — a metric to quantify the amount of solar radiation for a given area in a year — followed by Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. British Columbia, the Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador rank last. Cost differences to link up to the power grid also vary widely. In Ontario, for example, the Ottawa utility charged $1,449 to connect panels with its grid in 2023, while in Sudbury, the charge was only $548, according to McDiarmid. Jurisdictions offer an assortment of financial incentives. BC Hydro and Ontario give residential users rebates of up to $5,000 on grid-connected solar panels and up to $5,000 for battery storage systems. Nova Scotians can tap into rebates of up to $3,000, Prince Edward Island residents $10,000 (the program is on hold for a review, but is expected to resume in the coming months). Many municipalities have rebates for various home energy upgrades as well. A checklist to run through if you're considering rooftop solar: - Check your utility bill to tally how much you spend on electricity each year. In general, the more you shell out, the greater the possible savings from a photovoltaic system. - Check the average rate your utility charges for electricity. Again, the higher the rate, the more potential savings accrue. - Shop around for quotes from at least two or three installation firms. If their estimates on the long-term savings roughly align, those projections are probably not far off the mark. - Make sure the size of the installation matches your electricity demands. Don't splurge on a system that exceeds your needs. - Ask how efficient your system will be due to the slant of your roof and the directions it faces. - Research how much sun and snow your region receives. - Find out whether your municipality requires building and electrical permits to install solar panels. Many cities do, with the combined cost often topping $1,000. - Consider a battery for power outages to keep lights, internet, sump pumps and fridges working. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Are solar panels worth the investment? Yes — usually — but it depends where you live
MONTREAL – When she looked into installing solar panels on her roof, Heather McDiarmid came across an unexpected hitch. 'We realized we'd have to tear out the panels again a few years after we put them in because our roof was getting old and it was going to need new shingles. So we got our roof redone — but with metal shingles. That way it would last longer. And then we got our PV (photovoltaic) system,' said McDiarmid, a climate change mitigation consultant. Solar panels have never been cheaper, and the lower upfront cost means homeowners can recoup their investment more quickly, with savings on electricity bills. But experts say where buyers live plays the largest role in how long they'll need to break even. Location plays into factors ranging from how much electricity the home consumes to how much sun it receives, what incentives are available and even whether foliage obstructs the sunlight — or if roof renovations are needed. Across Canada, the average installation cost for solar panels was $3.34 per watt as of fall 2023, or $25,050 for a typical 7.5-kilowatt system, which covers most of an average household's electricity needs, according to But the price can range widely, sitting as low as $2.42 per watt in Ontario but double that in Nunavut. In Ontario, the average homeowner with a bigger installation — 10 kW — enjoys annual electricity bill savings of about $1,584 when charged at time-of-use rates, according to a report McDiarmid authored for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance last year. That means an Ontarian, drawing on a new provincial grant of up to $5,000 plus an interest-free federal Greener Homes loan, might effectively pay $25,000 for a 10 kW system. If their electricity bill comes to $100 a month — $1,200 a year — the panels would pay for themselves in 16 years. 'Many single-family home rooftops can accommodate a 10 kW solar array or more, which is enough to generate as much electricity as the home uses over a year,' McDiarmid writes. Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which then flows through an 'inverter' to be used in the home, with excess electricity spilling onto the broader power grid. Savings come not just from consuming less energy from the local utility but from 'net metering,' which allows homeowners to receive credits for the extra electricity they feed back onto the grid. Banking electricity daily, monthly and often yearly is typical, said Joshua Pearce, a Western University professor specializing in solar photovoltaic technology. 'People go to their cottage during the summer, they generate a huge amount of solar power that then lasts them through the winter. They've banked that electricity,' he said. Other key questions include how much electricity your household uses — higher consumption builds a bigger case for solar — and how much that costs, with rates varying from region to region. Another factor to consider: electric heaters suck up much more electricity than gas-heated homes. 'Essentially, everywhere that breaks the 12-cents-per-kWh bar, it probably makes sense to put in solar,' said Pearce. All provinces except Quebec charge a higher rate on average, according to Also pertinent is not just where your home sits within Canada, but within the property itself. A roof that faces south soaks up more rays, while a flatter pitch further improves efficiency. 'I've got half my garage covered (with solar panels) because that's the south-facing roof, and then a third of my main roof covered, that's my southwest-facing side of the building. That's what captures the most amount of sun, so you get the most bang for your buck,' said Phil McKay, a senior director at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. Installers can help with assessing where branches might need to be cut to absorb more light — though not all trees are yours to prune. 'I'm talking to you from the Forest City, and I love trees as much as the next guy, but not when they're partially shading my roof,' said Pearce from London, Ont., noting that many of those trunks are owned by neighbours or the city. Another key variable in solar energy production is just how sun-kissed your corner of the country is. The Prairie provinces enjoy the most hours of 'equivalent full sunlight hours' — a metric to quantify the amount of solar radiation for a given area in a year — followed by Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. British Columbia, the Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador rank last. Cost differences to link up to the power grid also vary widely. In Ontario, for example, the Ottawa utility charged $1,449 to connect panels with its grid in 2023, while in Sudbury, the charge was only $548, according to McDiarmid. Jurisdictions offer an assortment of financial incentives. BC Hydro and Ontario give residential users rebates of up to $5,000 on grid-connected solar panels and up to $5,000 for battery storage systems. Nova Scotians can tap into rebates of up to $3,000, Prince Edward Island residents $10,000 (the program is on hold for a review, but is expected to resume in the coming months). Many municipalities have rebates for various home energy upgrades as well. A checklist to run through if you're considering rooftop solar: – Check your utility bill to tally how much you spend on electricity each year. In general, the more you shell out, the greater the possible savings from a photovoltaic system. – Check the average rate your utility charges for electricity. Again, the higher the rate, the more potential savings accrue. – Shop around for quotes from at least two or three installation firms. If their estimates on the long-term savings roughly align, those projections are probably not far off the mark. – Make sure the size of the installation matches your electricity demands. Don't splurge on a system that exceeds your needs. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. – Ask how efficient your system will be due to the slant of your roof and the directions it faces. – Research how much sun and snow your region receives. – Find out whether your municipality requires building and electrical permits to install solar panels. Many cities do, with the combined cost often topping $1,000. – Consider a battery for power outages to keep lights, internet, sump pumps and fridges working. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Are solar panels worth the investment? Yes — usually — but it depends where you live
MONTREAL — When she looked into installing solar panels on her roof, Heather McDiarmid came across an unexpected hitch. 'We realized we'd have to tear out the panels again a few years after we put them in because our roof was getting old and it was going to need new shingles. So we got our roof redone — but with metal shingles. That way it would last longer. And then we got our PV (photovoltaic) system,' said McDiarmid, a climate change mitigation consultant. Solar panels have never been cheaper, and the lower upfront cost means homeowners can recoup their investment more quickly, with savings on electricity bills. But experts say where buyers live plays the largest role in how long they'll need to break even. Location plays into factors ranging from how much electricity the home consumes to how much sun it receives, what incentives are available and even whether foliage obstructs the sunlight — or if roof renovations are needed. Across Canada, the average installation cost for solar panels was $3.34 per watt as of fall 2023, or $25,050 for a typical 7.5-kilowatt system, which covers most of an average household's electricity needs, according to But the price can range widely, sitting as low as $2.42 per watt in Ontario but double that in Nunavut. In Ontario, the average homeowner with a bigger installation — 10 kW — enjoys annual electricity bill savings of about $1,584 when charged at time-of-use rates, according to a report McDiarmid authored for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance last year. That means an Ontarian, drawing on a new provincial grant of up to $5,000 plus an interest-free federal Greener Homes loan, might effectively pay $25,000 for a 10 kW system. If their electricity bill comes to $100 a month — $1,200 a year — the panels would pay for themselves in 16 years. 'Many single-family home rooftops can accommodate a 10 kW solar array or more, which is enough to generate as much electricity as the home uses over a year,' McDiarmid writes. Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which then flows through an "inverter" to be used in the home, with excess electricity spilling onto the broader power grid. Savings come not just from consuming less energy from the local utility but from "net metering," which allows homeowners to receive credits for the extra electricity they feed back onto the grid. Banking electricity daily, monthly and often yearly is typical, said Joshua Pearce, a Western University professor specializing in solar photovoltaic technology. 'People go to their cottage during the summer, they generate a huge amount of solar power that then lasts them through the winter. They've banked that electricity,' he said. Other key questions include how much electricity your household uses — higher consumption builds a bigger case for solar — and how much that costs, with rates varying from region to region. Another factor to consider: electric heaters suck up much more electricity than gas-heated homes. 'Essentially, everywhere that breaks the 12-cents-per-kWh bar, it probably makes sense to put in solar,' said Pearce. All provinces except Quebec charge a higher rate on average, according to Also pertinent is not just where your home sits within Canada, but within the property itself. A roof that faces south soaks up more rays, while a flatter pitch further improves efficiency. 'I've got half my garage covered (with solar panels) because that's the south-facing roof, and then a third of my main roof covered, that's my southwest-facing side of the building. That's what captures the most amount of sun, so you get the most bang for your buck,' said Phil McKay, a senior director at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. Installers can help with assessing where branches might need to be cut to absorb more light — though not all trees are yours to prune. 'I'm talking to you from the Forest City, and I love trees as much as the next guy, but not when they're partially shading my roof,' said Pearce from London, Ont., noting that many of those trunks are owned by neighbours or the city. Another key variable in solar energy production is just how sun-kissed your corner of the country is. The Prairie provinces enjoy the most hours of 'equivalent full sunlight hours' — a metric to quantify the amount of solar radiation for a given area in a year — followed by Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. British Columbia, the Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador rank last. Cost differences to link up to the power grid also vary widely. In Ontario, for example, the Ottawa utility charged $1,449 to connect panels with its grid in 2023, while in Sudbury, the charge was only $548, according to McDiarmid. Jurisdictions offer an assortment of financial incentives. BC Hydro and Ontario give residential users rebates of up to $5,000 on grid-connected solar panels and up to $5,000 for battery storage systems. Nova Scotians can tap into rebates of up to $3,000, Prince Edward Island residents $10,000 (the program is on hold for a review, but is expected to resume in the coming months). Many municipalities have rebates for various home energy upgrades as well. A checklist to run through if you're considering rooftop solar: - Check your utility bill to tally how much you spend on electricity each year. In general, the more you shell out, the greater the possible savings from a photovoltaic system. - Check the average rate your utility charges for electricity. Again, the higher the rate, the more potential savings accrue. - Shop around for quotes from at least two or three installation firms. If their estimates on the long-term savings roughly align, those projections are probably not far off the mark. - Make sure the size of the installation matches your electricity demands. Don't splurge on a system that exceeds your needs. - Ask how efficient your system will be due to the slant of your roof and the directions it faces. - Research how much sun and snow your region receives. - Find out whether your municipality requires building and electrical permits to install solar panels. Many cities do, with the combined cost often topping $1,000. - Consider a battery for power outages to keep lights, internet, sump pumps and fridges working. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025. Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press
Hamilton Spectator
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontarians urge Ford government to scrap US nuclear deal for Canadian renewable energy
A new province-wide poll shows 80 per cent of Ontarians want the Ford government to cancel a major US nuclear deal in favour of Canadian renewable energy alternatives. Ford signed contracts in 2021 with US-based GE Hitachi for small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington site and for enriched uranium imports — as the province moves ahead with its $20.9 billion plan to build four of the first SMRs in Canada. The first reactor is scheduled to be completed by 2029 and connected to the grid by 2030, supplying power to approximately 300,000 homes. The province says the project, once complete, will deliver 1,200 megawatts — enough electricity for 1.2 million homes. Despite the scale of the investment, it remains unclear how much of the $20.9 billion will go to GE Hitachi or other US-based suppliers. According to Ontario Power Generation (OPG), GE Hitachi is the technology developer for the Darlington SMRs — responsible for the design, procurement of major components, and engineering support for the project. Earlier this year, in response to new US tariffs, Ontario barred American firms from its electricity procurement process, urging utilities to 'buy Canadian' and seek domestic alternatives. The poll of 1,200 Ontarians, conducted by Oraclepoll Research for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, found overwhelming support for clean energy alternatives: 88 per cent support expanding the grid to import water, wind, and solar from Quebec, Manitoba and the Maritimes; 70 per cent prefer wind and solar over US nuclear technology; 66 per cent back offshore wind projects in the Great Lakes; and 72 per cent support zero-interest utility programs for heat pumps to reduce gas use. Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce defended the SMR project, calling it a 'nation-building' initiative. It will create 18,000 Canadian jobs, inject $500 million annually into the economy, and 80 per cent of project spending will remain in Ontario, he added. The construction 'will be led by Canadian workers using Canadian steel, concrete and materials to help deliver the extraordinary amount of reliable and clean power we will need to deliver on our ambitious plan to protect Ontario and unleash our economy,' Lecce said in a news release . But Jack Gibbons, chair of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, says the project increases Ontario's dependence on foreign suppliers at a time when trade tensions with the US are escalating. According to the alliance, the new reactors will rely on enriched uranium Canada cannot produce due to international non-proliferation agreements — meaning the fuel must be imported from the United States. 'It just doesn't make sense to build new, high-cost US nuclear reactors that will drive up our electricity bills, increase our dependence on the United States, and jeopardize our national security,' Gibbons said. 'We have safer and much cheaper alternatives: wind and solar combined with storage and stronger east-west energy cooperation.' Gibbons told Canada's National Observer the timing of this nuclear investment is particularly concerning, as Ontario is urging utilities to cut reliance on American suppliers. 'This is exactly the time for Ontario to look for alternative, clean-energy sources within Canada,' he said. In an emailed response to concerns raised by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, OPG said building wind, solar, and battery storage to match the Darlington new nuclear project's power output would be more expensive. OPG also said the renewable alternative would require far more land, new transmission lines and face supply chain risks, according to an analysis by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). In contrast, the power company says the Darlington plan uses existing infrastructure, carries fewer risks, and is in a strategic location. Based on these findings, the IESO recommended going ahead with the project. The agency said the project is overwhelmingly Ontario-made. While the reactor design originates in the US, OPG says 80 per cent of the project's sourcing is from Ontario, with only five per cent coming from US suppliers. On the issue of fuel supply, the utility says it has established a diversified supply chain to minimize risks. Gibbons called on Premier Ford to collaborate with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has pledged to make Canada a global clean-energy leader. According to the IESO, demand in Ontario is expected to rise 75 per cent by 2050. A recent report by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance estimates that electricity from new nuclear power would cost 3.6 times more than onshore wind, three times more than solar, and 1.7 times more than offshore wind. The alliance report also highlights Ontario's untapped renewable potential — especially wind energy from the Great Lakes, which could supply more than enough clean electricity to meet future demand.
