Ontario Schools to gain Renewable Energy
April 29, 2011
 Ontario schools are poised to become more environmentally aware, with 126 schools embracing cleaner more energy efficient and renewable sources of power, like wind, solar and geothermal.
The McGuinty government is using renewable energy to help schools reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and save money on energy costs. In some cases, the schools can even earn revenue by selling electricity back to the grid.
Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Education says, “These projects are giving students an opportunity to see first-hand the benefits of turning on clean, modern and reliable power. They provide a clear demonstration of how Ontario can harness renewable sources of power for a cleaner and more prosperous future.”
In the 2009-2010 school year, Ontario school boards spent close to $400 million on utility bills. Becoming more energy efficient saves money and promotes a culture of conservation, benefiting both the schools and the environment.
The McGuinty government has invested more than $620 million since 2009, to make Ontario’s schools cleaner and more sustainable places for kids to learn. These investments have resulted in more then 2,400 schools benefiting from the 4,200 clean energy projects across Ontario.
“This is an important investment in Ontario’s clean energy economy and in our schools. It helps build the growing renewable energy sector and modernize our electricity system while giving school boards an opportunity to cut energy costs,” says Minister of Energy, Brad Duguid.
Alternative energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels can sell electricity back to the grid through various MicroFIT programs, which are in integral part of the Green Energy Act.
Since 2003, Ontario has increased its wind power capacity 100-fold, increasing from 15 megawatts of wind power generated from 10 turbines, to 1,500 megawatts generated from more then 800 turbines.
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