Web exclusive posted March 2, 2009, at 9:10 a.m. CST

New energy legislation recently proposed in Ontario would help the government attract new investment, create green jobs and protect the climate. If passed, the Green Energy and Green Economy Act would help the Canadian province build a stronger, greener economy. It's estimated that the legislation could create up to 50,000 jobs in three years while sparking growth in clean energy sources, such as biomass and biogas.

The proposed legislation consists of a series of coordinated actions designed to make it easier to bring renewable energy projects to life while fostering a culture of conservation. Many of the components contained within the proposed legislation seem to mirror the intended purposes of energy legislation included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law in late February.

According to information on the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure Web site, the legislation would provide more certainty and clarity in the approval process for renewable energy projects, while expanding and improving the province's electrical grid system.

In order to expedite the growth of renewable resources, such as biomass and biogas, the legislation would create a feed-in tariff to guarantee specific rates for energy generated from renewable resources. It would also establish the right to connect to the grid for renewable energy projects that meet technical, economic and other regulatory requirements. Furthermore, the legislation would establish a one-stop streamlined approval process for projects that meet regulatory requirements.

The proposed legislation seems to be strongly supported by Ontario's renewable energy industry.

If passed, the act would build on the government's earlier initiatives, including a plan to eliminate the use of coal-fired power by 2014.

Additional information on the proposed legislation is available on Ontario's Web site.