An opinion piece published on Canada’s TheSpec.com raised some interesting points surrounding Ontario’s Green Energy Act, which included a local content requirement – the added value brought to a host country through the procurement of goods and services and local workforce development – of 50% for wind projects and 60% for solar.
Halfway through 2013 the World Trade Organization declared the requirement to be in conflict with international trade rules, and the plan in 2014 is for local content quotas to be removed altogether and reform the Green Energy Act in response to the WTO decision.
We at The Refinishing Touch are big advocates for change when it comes to the environment and sustainability. Having helped over 20,000 customers across the hospitality, higher education and government sectors reduce their carbon footprint and save tens of thousands of trees and dollars, we know that whether its green energy or furniture asset management services – sustainable initiatives like these in Ontario have an environmental and fiscal return for local citizens and patrons.
The authors argue that the “solution is for the province to shift from providing incentives for private renewable power to more public power production,” and that while some may oppose this citing it will increase the price of energy in Ontario, “local content is an important and demonstrably successful way to make the most of our shift to a greener electricity grid.”
What do you think about local solutions to green energy concerns globally? Tweet us your thoughts on Twitter at @RefinishTouch.