CGC Announces the Winners of the 6th Annual GeoExchange Excellence Awards

Hydro-Québec encouraged to maintain its residential geothermal program

In a decision published today, the Quebec Energy Board encourages Hydro-Québec to maintain its residential geothermal incentive program.

In its August 2012 rate case application for 2013-2014, Hydro-Québec announced it intended to terminate its residential geothermal program on December 31st 2012.As an intervener in the case, the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) filed extensive evidence in favour of program continuation and defended this position vigorously during public hearings in December 2012.

In an interim decision rendered on December 20, 2012, the Board agreed to CGC’s request to safeguard the program until fifteen days after publication of a final Board decision. The residential geothermal program therefore continues at least until March 28, 2013.

In today’s decision, the Board also rules that it cannot order Hydro-Québec to continue the program. The Board said that it doesn’t have the authority to impose specific energy efficiency measures on Hydro-Québec if the energy distributor hasn’t planned any budget to that effect. According to the Board, this authority belongs to Québec’s Minister of Natural Resources. In this regard, CGC notes that the Parti Québecois’ election platform of 2012 mentions that geothermal energy was a cornerstone of an energy strategy based on integrated resource planning.

Presenting the Final Programme for the Canada-UK-US Renewable Heat Workshop

Canada’s industry associations for solar and heat pump technologies – the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) and the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) – together with UK Trade & Investment, released a final programme for their day-long joint workshop at the University of Toronto’s Hart House, on January 31st.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Dr. Penny Dunbabin, Senior Scientist, UK Department of Energy & Climate Change
• Mr. Lindsay Goater, Senior Manager, Renewable Heat Incentive (Generation), Ofgem UK;
• Ms. Katherine Stainken, Policy Specialist at Solar Energy Industries Association (US)
• Mr. Jonathan Dart, British Consul General Toronto
• Mr. Adrian Hewitt, Director, Energence Ltd., former City Councillour for Merton (UK);
• Mr. Tim Wohlgemut, CEO, ClearSky Advisors (Canada)

In addition, five technical presentations will discuss working renewable heat projects across the continent.

Speakers from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada will Gather in Toronto to Discuss Renewable Heat

Canada’s industry associations for solar and heat pump technologies – the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) and the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) – together with UK Trade & Investment, confirmed a broad range of speakers for their day-long joint workshop at the University of Toronto’s Hart House, on January 31st.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Ms. Penny Dunbabin, Senior Scientist, UK Department of Energy & Climate Change
• Mr. Lindsay Goater, Senior Manager, Renewable Heat Incentive (Generation), Ofgem;
• Ms. Katherine Stainken, Policy Specialist at Solar Energy Industries Association (US)
• Mr. Jonathan Dart, British Consul General Toronto
• Mr. Adrian Hewitt, Director, Energence Ltd., former City Councillour for Merton (UK);
• Mr. Tim Wohlgemut, CEO, ClearSky Advisors (Canada)

Residential Geothermal Heat Pump Program: Hydro-Québec’s grant continued until at least March 2013

As many Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) stakeholders are aware, this past autumn Hydro-Québec announced an end to all its residential subsidy programs effective December 31st 2012. Hydro-Québec made this announcement as part of it 2013 rate case hearing before the Québec Energy Board.

On December 20th, 2012, after intensive research, filing and testimony by CGC staff in this case, the Québec Energy Board granted the CGC’s motion to continue the Hydro-Québec Residential Geothermal Heat Pump Program until at least March 2013. With this decision, the Energy Board acknowledges that the CGC members and their clients would have suffered a “serious or irreversible prejudice” should Hydro-Québec’s decision to end the program be permitted.

In March 2013, the Energy Board is expected to render a final decision on Hydro-Québec’s 2013-2014 rate case, including whether the utility will have to maintain the program beyond April 2013. CGC has requested that the program continue for at least another year.

Hydro-Québec decided to end its Residential Geothermal Heat Pump Program because of alleged non-profitability, based on an external evaluation report. The CGC, recognized as a formal intervener by the Energy Board, disputed the evaluation’s conclusions, submitting more that 70 (seventy) pages of detailed economic, technical and logical argumentation during more than four months, to show that the program is positive for society and a net benefit to the province. CGC’s staff team pleaded that ending the program was premature, and that continuing market transformation efforts in Québec would take at least five more years.

You can see Hydro-Québec’s statement to that effect on their website by clicking here.

The CGC spares no effort to ensure that Canada’s geothermal heat pump industry will continue to transform the heating and air conditioning market. We are determined to pursue these efforts over the next months.

The CGC team wishes you a very happy New Year.