Should Ontario Fast-Track Renewable Energy Approvals?

Official title: Amending the Renewable Energy Approval regulation to remove certain project types from the process and streamline the review of Natural Heritage Assessments

Open Regulations & Permits Environment & Climate Natural Resources
Ontario wants to speed up approvals for solar, wind, and bio-energy projects. The plan? Remove some projects from the approval process entirely if they're already regulated elsewhere. Also, instead of government staff reviewing environmental assessments, qualified consultants would sign off on them instead.

Why This Matters

Care about clean energy? This could mean more solar panels and wind turbines get built faster. But there's a trade-off: less government oversight of environmental impacts. If you live near potential renewable energy sites, the rules protecting local wildlife and habitats could change.

What Could Change

Factories and hospitals generating their own renewable power could skip the approval process if they already have other environmental permits. Natural heritage assessments would be signed off by private consultants instead of Ministry staff. Bird and bat protection guidelines would move from regulation into a guidance document.

Key Issues

  • Should facilities with existing environmental permits be exempt from renewable energy approvals?
  • Should private consultants replace government review of natural heritage assessments?
  • What are the anticipated benefits or costs to Ontario businesses from these changes?

How to Participate

  1. Read the proposal on the Environmental Registry and the related Natural Heritage Assessment Guide proposal.
  2. Submit your comments through the Environmental Registry by the deadline. You can also email permissions.modernization@ontario.ca.

Submit Your Input

Comment On The Renewable Energy Approval Changes Draft Email
Questions Being Asked (1)
  1. What are the anticipated benefits or costs to Ontario businesses from these proposed changes?

Key Documents