TORONTO, Nov. 21 /CNW/ - Ontario's power producers welcomed the announcement today of the winners of the second Request for Proposals (RFP) from the Ontario government for 975 megawatts of clean, green power. According to APPrO President Dave Butters, bringing this much renewable capacity into Ontario's power system will help to provide a secure energy supply for Ontario and ensure the continued development of a strong renewable energy industry in Ontario.

"It's no secret that reinvesting in energy infrastructure in Ontario is one of the major challenges facing the province over the next decade", Butters noted. "And while there's no "silver bullet" solution for Ontario's energy challenges, it clearly makes sense for Ontario to increase production of electricity from the clean energy resources available to us here in Ontario and to do this in partnership with the private sector. We congratulate the nine winners of this RFP - these new projects when in operation will provide much needed clean, renewable power, and that's got to be good for all of us", he said.

Butters added however, that an immediate priority for all governments and stakeholders is to work on streamlined approval processes and better communication to the public on the importance of contracted generation projects in achieving Ontario's critical electricity supply objectives. "Our ability to deliver clean new energy when we need it and at a price we can afford will be seriously at risk if we do not address nimby-ism and other impediments to the timely development of new generation projects", he said.

APPrO is a non-profit organization representing more than 100 companies involved in the generation of electricity in Ontario, including generators, suppliers of services, equipment and consulting services. APPrO members produce power from nuclear, hydro, fossil, wind, waste wood and other energy sources. APPrO's members currently produce over 95% of the electricity generated in Ontario.