Orazietti goes solar

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

*************************** Orazietti announces $2.5 million for new solar panel manufacturer

McGuinty government delivering jobs and economic growth In Sault Ste. Marie

SAULT STE. MARIE - The McGuinty government is investing in the clean energy manufacturing sector and creating job growth by supporting Heliene Canada’s establishment of a solar module manufacturing plant in Sault Ste. Marie, David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

“Our government’s leading edge renewable energy strategy is continuing to build a stronger more diversified economy in Sault Ste. Marie and is delivering the results we need as a community,” said Orazietti. “By supporting Heliene Canada, a value-added manufacturing businesses in the clean energy sector, we are creating high quality, well-paying jobs and positioning our city to be at the forefront of a growing industry.”

The province, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s (NOHFC) Enterprise North Job Creation Program, is providing Heliene Canada with a loan of $1,875,000 and a $625,000 grant to build a solar module manufacturing plant that is expected to produce 87,500 solar panels that can generate 20 megawatts of power per year. 

The new company is made up of two local Canadian investors including Denis Turcotte, the former CEO of Algoma Steel.

The company expects to operate on a three-shift cycle that would create as many as 12 jobs per shift when at full capacity, for a total of approximately 36 jobs.

“There are not enough words to express our gratitude to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund. Without its financial support, our project and the new jobs it will bring to our community would not exist,” said Martin Pochtaruk, president of Heliene Canada. “We would like to thank the provincial government for its proactive approach to renewable energy. The Ontario Green Energy Act is the most visionary plan for renewable power generation in North America, which is needed to replace old coal-power energy generation with modern green technologies.”

Key McGuinty government investments supporting green technology and environmental initiatives in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma include:

- Provincial power purchase agreement to facilitate $400 million capital investment by Brookfield Renewable Power to build a 189 MW wind farm – the largest in Ontario.

- Provincial power purchase agreement to facilitate $135 million capital investment by Essar Steel to build a 70 MW co-generation plant – eliminating 400 tons of nitrous oxide.

- Provincial power purchase agreement to facilitate $100 million capital investment by Starwood Energy to build a 20 MW solar energy farm - first phase of the project.

- $7 million to green Sault Ste. Marie schools including energy retrofits.

- $6 million in provincial gas tax funding reducing air emissions through increased public transportation ridership.

- $3 million to Sault Ste. Marie and Region Conservation Authority for source water protection.

- $2 million for tire recycling project in Sault Ste. Marie.

- $1.4 million to construct methane collection system at landfill to reduce greenhouse gases.

- $135,000 to support SITTM Technologies biofuel project.

- Certificate of Approval for Elementa’s innovative waste-to-energy project.

Quick facts

NOHFC funding for the project is provided through its Enterprises North Job Creation program which now provides grants in additional to business loans. 

Provincial investments in the growth of the clean energy sector are part of the Open Ontario plan to create jobs and opportunities in Northern Ontario.

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