The OPA annouced July 2, 2010 that MicroFIT Ground Mounted systems will only receive $0.588/kWhr, in a move to reduce the number of projects in the queue.  The decision was made retroactive to anyone who did not have a conditional offer or contract in place as of July 2.  Since the OPA has been withholding ground mount applications since early January, this decision affects almost all of the 10,000 applications waiting for processing.

The industry of course is upset about retroactive changes to the program.  Some customers have done site work, poured footings, bought equipment and invested time and money in their projects, while waiting patiently for the OPA to return their application.  Indeed, as recently as 2 months ago the OPA was promising a 45 day turn around time for MicroFIT conditional offers.  If you are such a customer, help us convince the OPA that retroactive decisions are unfair.

The OPA has agreed to a 30 day input periof for comments on the changes.  You can send your comments to microfit@powerauthority.on.ca.  Home Energy and CanSIA are both making submissions as well.

If you were planning a ground mount solar system, your options right now are:

* Choose a roof mounted system if possible

* Accept the lower feed-in tariff of $0.588/kWh

Home Energy has a low cost 10 kW system using Sharp’s thin-fil modules which will help restore your return on investment in a ground mounted system. Although larger than a 10kW crystaline solar system (135′ x 10′), for sites that are not space constrained, the ROI is much improved.  Contact your dealer, or download the HES-GT-10.1TF brochure.

Please send us your reaction.  We’ll include it with our OPA submission.

Thanks, The staff of Home Energy Solutions.

Your MicroFIT partner.