TORONTO, April 26 /CNW/ - Ontario's electricity grid will soon get a

boost from 14 new renewable energy projects - including North America's

largest solar farm - awarded through the Standard Offer Program, Energy

Minister Dwight Duncan announced today.

     "The Standard Offer Program is transforming the way we generate

electricity in Ontario," said Duncan. "This program is giving Ontarians the

opportunity to help strengthen our energy system and clean up our air."

     One of the projects announced today is one of the world's largest solar

farms, to be built in Sarnia. OptiSolar Farms will install over one million

ground-mounted solar panels to convert solar power into electricity. This

project will comprise four solar farms and will contribute 40 megawatts to the

grid by 2010 - enough to supply electricity for 6,000 homes.

     "I am very pleased that our community was chosen as the site for this

major new project," said Caroline Di Cocco, MPP for Sarnia-Lambton. "It just

goes to show that Sarnia-Lambton has the right mix of infrastructure and

people, making it a great place to invest. I am very proud of the work that

everyone has done to make this happen."

     "The Ontario government has chosen to take a world-leading role in

encouraging the development of renewable energy, and the Standard Offer

Program is making things happen," said OptiSolar Farms vice-president Peter

Carrie. "Our goal is to make solar power a mainstream energy source."

     The projects include two residential-sized solar photovoltaic

installations, several 10-megawatt wind farms and two waterpower projects with

First Nations participation. The Gitchi Animki Bezhig project will produce

more than eight megawatts of electricity; the Gitchi Animki Niizh project will

produce 9.9 megawatts. All of the contracted projects are expected to be in

service by 2010.

     "This program continues to demonstrate Ontario's international leadership

in developing small renewable generation," said Paul Shervill, a

vice-president of the Ontario Power Authority, the developer and manager of

the Standard Offer Program. "But I am most pleased by the number, scope and

provincewide geography of the projects - it demonstrates that Ontarians are

truly engaged in our electricity future."

     Today's announcement brings to 36 the number of projects awarded under

the Standard Offer Program since February. Taken together, these projects will

generate 250 megawatts of renewable energy - enough to power more than 55,000

homes.

     Ontario's Renewable Standard Offer Program is the largest of its kind in

North America and is expected to add 1,000 megawatts of clean energy to the

grid over the next 10 years.

     For further information on the Standard Offer Program and tips on how to

become a small generator, visit www.powerauthority.on.ca/sop.

     All Ontarians have a role to play in making our province greener. The

government has already taken action by protecting a greenbelt that stretches

across southern Ontario from development, introducing tough new laws that

protect our drinking water, producing more renewable energy and doing more to

conserve electricity. But we know more needs to be done. That's why our next

step will be the announcement of a climate change plan - a step that will help

all Ontarians do their part to make our province cleaner and greener while

keeping the economy strong.