New Ontario venture cap company looking for clean tech innovators

 March 28, 2012 – A company that converts plastic into fuels and another that makes measurement sensors for the smart grid are the inaugural investments of a new $30 million cleantech venture fund launched in Ontario.

MaRS Cleantech Fund LP is an early stage cleantech venture fund that leverages the strength of its strategic relationship between MaRS Discovery District and the private sector. The fund has attracted capital from a number of private investors, including Greg Kiessling, co-founder of Bullfrog Power and founder of private investment company, Up Capital Ltd. Early stage cleantech companies that join the portfolio will be provided approximately $1 million as an initial investment, with possible follow-up funding.

Ontario sees “FIT” to renew and revamp clean energy program

With more than 20,000 clean energy jobs created and $27 billion in new investment, the Ontario Feed-in-Tariff strategy is celebrating two years of operation by renewal and expansion of the program.

Energy Minister Chris Bentley has announced that following a review of the clean energy program, the government is moving ahead with all the recommendations in the report. This includes a number of initiatives:

• Reviewing Ontario’s electricity supply and demand forecast to explore whether a higher renewables capacity target is warranted.
• Creating a new Renewable Energy Committee to help regulatory ministries reduce duplication, improve service standards and streamline the process – shortening the application process by up to 25 percent.
• Reserving a minimum of 10 percent of the remaining FIT contract capacity for projects with significant community and Aboriginal participation.
• Reducing prices for solar by 20 percent and wind by 15 percent while maintaining prices for water, biogas, biomass and landfill gas.

Ontario has been a leading North America jurisdiction in clean energy production. To date, the FIT program has led to almost 2,500 medium and large contracts totaling approximately 4,600 MW, enough to power 1.2 million homes.  More than 20,000 jobs have been created and the province believes it’s on track to create up to 50,000 new jobs.

Engaged BC Treaty process vital component to clean energy development and First Nation future

It was 20 years ago that the B.C. First Nations Summit, the provincial government and Ottawa celebrated the beginning of the B.C. treaty process.  Among all parties was a sense of optimism. The process would ‘establish a new relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and understanding — through political negotiations’.[i] It would be an era of modern treaty-making and a new beginning of coexistence and cooperation with First Nations

Twenty years and $533 million[ii] later, optimism is all but gone from a process that has been nothing short of a failure. “The expectation (was) that we would be able to put this business to bed by the year 2000…that we would have treaties and land certainty,” says B.C. Treaty Chief Commissioner Sophie Pierre.  “This year, 2012, is the 20ieth anniversary of the treaty process …and we have two treaties. Not really a good record.”

One year later, clear proof of social and economic benefits of BC’s clean energy projects

Sunday road washout to Tipella, B.C.

In the shadow of the Garibaldi Mountains, the Inchuck-ch forestry road to Tipella can be an adventuresome gamble. The isolated, single track to Pemberton is subject to volatile weather, falling trees or as can be seen in the photo, heart stopping washouts. This past Sunday, an elder from the Douglas “Xa’xtsa” Indian Band was stopped by this flash washout. As he watched, his vehicle (bottom of picture) was pulled into the expanding hole. Such is life for those who live in the remote communities of Tipella and Douglas, at the north end of Harrison Lake.

But road washouts have been just one of the many difficulties faced by residents of this small aboriginal community. Despite overhead BC Hydro power lines running through Xa’Xtsa traditional territory, it was diesel fuel that powered the several dozen homes in the two villages on Douglas Creek for decades. And that diesel fuel had to be trucked down unpredictable roads year round. When washouts occurred, which they do on average twice a year, its impact was felt as diesel ran low and electricity to power homes was also cut back or cut out.

BC clean energy vehicle program good idea…but smells funny

Who among us would not like to have the cash to buy a clean-burning  vehicle, do our part to save the environment and get more bang for our gas buck? I’d say most of us. But who among us can afford a $100,000 vehicle?

It’s a good question, especially if you would like to get in on the clean-vehicle revolution and park a spanking-new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in your driveway.  Unfortunately, that’s what your basic hydrogen vehicle costs these days. As a reporter, I attended a high profile news conference with prime minister Stephen Harper and former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell pre-2010 Olympics. Both were extolling the virtues of hydrogen vehicles and the proposed hydrogen highway from California to Whistler. After a technician at the conference pointed out to me the basic sedan on display would set you back 100k, I asked the politicians who could afford this outrageous price. Neither had a satisfactory answer.