Sunpower : how Ontario is jump-starting the solar-energy economy

Many families are now taking advantage of Ontario's new standard offers program which was initiated to promote small renewable energy projects using guaranteed rates. The program was designed to show homeowners that solar energy is financially viable. Programs and initiatives such as the West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE) have resulted in communities investing in solar equipment and becoming more knowledgeable about renewable energy resources. The standard offer subsidy was designed to get solar power into the marketplace alongside traditional forms of electricity generation. A 1-kw photovoltaic (PV) cell was designed to earn its owner between $400 and $500 per year. The WISE program allowed its members to purchase an entry-level system that cost only $150 per month. The PV system is expected to pay for itself within 5 to 6 years. Although the federal government has invested $36 million in a renewable energy fund, many environmentalists believe that Ontario's emerging solar sector is not growing quickly enough. Countries such as Germany and Japan have seen significant growth in the solar industry over the last 20 years. 14 figs