CanSIA urges Federal Government to let solar light the way to Canada’s future

The following release is for the Canadian Solar Industries Association:

December 19, 2008 – The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) has offered suggestions in a letter to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty showing solar can lead to a brighter future and aid Canada’s economy.

“Canada enjoys a close proximity to the U.S. marketplace. In our industries’ case, we see this as a positive as we expect a `solar boom’ next year due to the supportive policies and programs currently in place or being developed by the incoming White House Administration,” said Patti Hargreaves, CanSIA Board of Directors Chair.

“Given the significant global competition for green economy jobs, the key to establishing the renewable energy sector as a pillar of the nation’s new economic stimulus strategy is cooperation between the Canadian federal and provincial governments,” said Elizabeth McDonald, CanSIA Executive Director. “We urge this government to put policies in place that will harness this emerging opportunity.”

CanSIA points to investment experts such as Merrill Lynch, which stated that clean technologies such as solar energy will lead the next economic revolution. And a report from RBC Capital Markets forecasting the global solar energy market will continue to grow at a rate of 40 per cent annually for a number of years.

CanSIA offers four proposals to be considered as part of a renewable energy and economic stimulus strategy in the upcoming 2009 Federal Budget.

1. The extension and an increase in funding for ecoENERGY programs;
2. The creation of an electrical grid infrastructure upgrade program;
3. Creating access to capital for renewable energy projects through green
energy loan guarantees and green bonds; and
4. A commitment to renewable energy through the establishment of renewable
energy targets and streamlined federal procurement processes.

The Canadian Solar Industries Association’s mission is to develop a strong, efficient, ethical and professional Canadian solar industry, able to service an expanding domestic energy market, to provide innovative solar solutions to world energy problems, and to play a major role in promoting the transition to a solar energy future worldwide.