TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2007 -- Canada NewsWire

A program that will provide businesses with up to $80,000 to install solar heating systems is the latest tool Ontario is using to become North America's leader in solar power.

Ontario is rapidly increasing its use of solar energy, with over 100 contracts signed for potential solar energy projects across the province ranging in size from residential systems to large-scale solar farms capable of powering thousands of homes.

Now Ontario's businesses, industries and institutions have another incentive to get in on the action.

The Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Incentive matches rebates provided by the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program. Each program provides up to 25 per cent of the cost of purchasing and installing a solar hot water or solar air heating system, to a maximum of $80,000.

Gerry Phillips, Ontario's new Energy Minister has announced an agreement with the federal government which will help the Province implement this four-year, $14.4 million rebate program in conjunction with Natural Resources Canada to encourage businesses, institutions and industry across Ontario to install solar heating systems.

"We are delighted to have this important agreement in place," said Ontario Energy Minister Gerry Phillips. "These solar installations will help achieve important reductions in the use of fossil fuel-based energy for space and water heating. That is why we are supporting this important rebate program so significantly."

The long-term benefits of solar energy are immense. In Canada's commercial and institutional sectors, up to 10 per cent of energy use is for water heating and over 50 per cent is for space heating. This program will support the installation of solar systems that offset both of these loads. For space heating, savings from solar systems can approach 50 per cent of building heating loads.

To participate in the Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Incentive, applicants must apply through the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program. The province's program applies to those Ontario applications submitted to the federal program on or after June 20, 2007 (when the provincial program was initially announced).

Interested applicants should start by visiting NRCan's ecoACTION website at www.ecoaction.gc.ca  or by calling NRCan information hotline at 1-877-722-6600. Then, more information about Ontario's matching incentive can be found on the Ministry of Energy website at www.energy.gov.on.ca  or by calling the Ministry's information hotline at 1-888-668-4636.

SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Energy

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