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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 11, 2010 · 14 Renewable energy meeting June 16 Halton's urban and rural residents, businesses and institutions will get a chance to learn about renewable energy and how to participate in the Province's popular and potentially lucrative MicroFIT program. Renewable energy technology specialists Graham Flint and Chris Braekevelt will offer information and insight into solar PV systems and thermal technologies like geo-thermal and solar thermal options at meetings in the four communities across the region hosted by Halton Enablers of Renewable Energy (HERE), an initiative of Halton Environmental Network. "At this meeting, you will learn about renewable energy technologies and the benefits they offer, including reducing your environmental footprint, getting paid to sell clean energy to the grid, saving money by using solar energy to help heat your water and efficiently heating and cooling your home using geo-exchange systems," said Amanda Donatelli, project assistant for HERE. The Province's MicroFIT program offers a 20-year contract at guaranteed rates to property owners who want to install green technology capable of generating up to 10 kilowatts of electricity. For a smaller two to three KW solar array on a residential rooftop, the provincial rate would allow the homeowner to pay off the equipment in 11 years and subsequently get an 11 per cent rate of return, Ontario Power Authority Chair Colin Anderson told attendees at Milton Hydro's AGM on June 4. Interest in the program has been greater than anticipated, he added. The OPA has received 13,500 applications and it has thus far made 4,000 conditional offers. The OPA has received 85 MicroFIT applications from property owners in Halton, the OPA stated recently. Ten are already contributing electricity to the grid and another 36 have received conditional offers. The other 39 are still under review. The HERE meeting in Oakville is on Wednesday, June 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Oakville Town Hall, Oakville/Trafalgar Rooms. For more information, visit halton.ourpower.ca. Cocoon Furnishings Ë 2640 Bristol Circle, Oakville, Ontario L6H 6Z7 Ë 905.829.2780 Ë www.cocoonfurnishings.ca