OFA provided comments to the Ministry of Energy and Electrification regarding proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 429/04 Amendments Related to the Treatment of Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPA).

Rural and agricultural communities can participate in solutions to help meet the increased local electricity demand needed to reach the 2050 electrification targets. OFA supports a PPA framework that includes Class B customer participation, to provide these customers with the ability to reduce their electricity costs and carbon emissions. OFA supports enabling Distributed Energy Resources (DER) within the distribution system, and we recommend that regulators and the Ministry of Energy and Electrification consider reducing the minimum amount of electricity eligible for PPA from 1 MW to 500 kW.

OFA recommends the proposed amendments include developing Virtual Net Metering (VNM) programs for Class B customers that have more than one metered account and the ability to generate power at one site and the demand at other sites.

OFA also supports a framework that considers the protection of Prime Agricultural Areas. OFA is pleased that the IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator) has taken direction from the Ministry to assess procurement processes with criterion that consider protection of prime agricultural areas, Municipal Support Resolutions, community engagement, and environmental and permitting approvals.

OFA recommends that regulators and the Ministry continue to prioritize the siting of all energy infrastructure, including distribution system infrastructure, on commercial and industrial land, and not permit siting on Canada Land Class 1 through 4 or Specialty Crop Lands.

We recommend all stakeholders considering farmland for DER and non-utility power facilities review the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Guidelines on Permitted Uses in Ontario’s Prime Agricultural Areas.