CanREA Urges Canada to Step up to the Plate on Renewable Energy
Media Release, February 28, 2008
On March 3, 2008, ministers from around the globe will meet in Washington to discuss ways of scaling up renewable energy. At the Washington Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) - the largest renewable energy conference ever held - each country will be asked to make major new policy commitments that will support new investment in renewable energy technology.
The combination of renewable energy with significant improvements in energy efficiency is the leading option to address global warming. A transition to renewable energy will also bring improvements in air and water quality, energy security, access to energy and economic development.
Despite having more renewable energy resources than most other countries, Canada is lagging behind the rest of the world on its use.
CanREA calls for the Canadian government to immediately adopt nine renewable energy policies and announce them at WIREC.
1. By 2009 establish national targets for renewable energy and develop a national renewable energy strategy, including a renewable energy act.
2. Scale up current incentive programs for renewable power by three fold over the next five years.
3. Introduce a national tax credit for residential and small business solar water heaters.
4. Provide support for community power generation.
5. Support renewable energy deployment in the North.
6. Support sustainable, renewable biomass heating fuels.
7. Develop sustainability criteria for renewable agricultural and bio-fuels.
8. Establish a high-level national task force on renewable power grid integration, power storage and transmission.
9. Participate actively in and provide funding for international partnerships.
Download the media release.
Download the background document.
