The Star reports the same propaganda that the OPA issues, stating that ground mounted solar costs less than rooftop mounted. I really wish that someone reporting this information would take the time to actually investigate the story before they print it.
Ground mounted solar costs less only when the owner chooses to build the system themselves, which happens in about 5% of the projects. The rest of the installs use a sales and installation company, using manufactured and engineered components, which is a more expensive method of installation.
I think that the reason the OPA decided to change the rates is that they really did not think that the public would embrace the idea of creating "green energy". There is no reason that a kW generated on a rooftop should be paid any more than one paid on the ground, unless they had not expected that as many people and businesses would take up the cause as has happened. Most rooftops will not support a 10kW sized system, so that fact that rural property owners (many of them farmers I would assume) decided to participate, resulted in more kW being produced at the microFIT rate than the OPA planned, hence the change in rate.
It is really unfortunate that the truth about the program is revealed. The OPA does not want individual and small business participation in the FIT program. The question is, why did they bother to implement it in the first place? The OPA manages so much power in this province, why are they being so petty as to attack farmers and rural property owners over a few cents a kW.
Let the Toronto Star know they have their facts wrong here: http://www.thestar.com/business/article/831294--province-blocks-solar-generation-loophole
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