Cumberland Candidate Stephen Blais would like the City of Ottawa to partner with local companies to generate new revenue streams by leasing City-owned rooftops for the production of renewable energy using solar panels.

“By partnering with local businesses to go solar, we will be able to generate new revenues for the City,” says Blais. “New revenues generated by these opportunities can be used to reinvest in these City-owned facilities.”

Under Ontario's Feed-in Tarrif (FIT) program, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) will pay independent solar electricity producers up to $0.80 per kilowatt for power delivered back to the grid. The development of solar electricity generation projects will enable small, local, renewable energy producers to get into the energy market and make Ottawa a leader in the generation of green energy.

“City hall has to stop thinking of taxpayers as ATMs with unlimited money at our disposal,” adds Blais. “We need to create new revenue streams that will give taxpayers a break.”

If elected to city council, Blais’ believes a Public Private Partnership (P3) is the best way to proceed. The City will invite locally owned companies to bid on leasing opportunities for access to the rooftops of City owned buildings. These companies will bear the costs of purchasing and installing the solar panels. Winning bidders will pay royalties to the City based on the sale of electricity to the power grid. By selling solar electricity to OPA, companies will recoup the start-up costs and generate profits.

“City hall more than ever needs a generational change in leadership with ideas that will benefit our families and communities,” adds Blais. “Our current city council has missed so many great opportunities that other cities around the globe are taking advantage of.”

As a Catholic school board trustee, Blais supported an initiative to install two large solar panels on the roof of the new Kanata North Elementary School. The school board will make $54,000 a year from this initiative that will cover the costs of electricity, natural gas and water for the school.