Renewable Energy Incentives for Canada, Quebec and Ontario

We the undersigned request that the Governments of Canada, Quebec and Ontario financially encourage the use of renewable energy technologies by their constituents, so that they might reduce their overall energy consumption, and thus lessen their dependence on the conventional electrical and petrochemical supply network.

For the purpose of this petition, renewable energy technologies are understood to comprise the independent generation of electricity by means of sun, wind or small-scale hydroelectric-driven devices, and also to include geothermal and solar technologies for the production of domestic hot water, space heating and pool heating. We request that those who use these renewable energy options be afforded the benefit of financial incentives including, but not limited to:

Refund of federal and provincial sales taxes for purchases directly related to the implementation of renewable energy systems
Income tax deductions equivalent to the depreciation of renewable energy equipment, to allow for continuing investment
An income tax credit equivalent to 25\% of the initial cost of renewable energy components and installation
Fostering the development of CSA standards for renewable energy equipment and components, particularly SDHW, which is currently under review and has thusly, prevented many Canadians from being able to participate in the One-Tonne Challenge in an exceptionally long term and cost-effective way.

We further request that these benefits be extended retroactively to purchases incurred since January 1998, the date of the devastating ice storm that disrupted the electric utility that served so many of the citizens of eastern Ontario and south-western Quebec, and that they had come to be dependant upon.

*************************************************************************

Nous, soussignйs, demandons aux gouvernements du Canada, du Quйbec et de lOntario dinciter financiиrement les citoyens а utiliser des technologies dйnergie renouvelable dans le but de rйduire la consommation йnergйtique et de diminuer la dйpendance sur les sources dйlectricitй conventionnelles et les approvisionnements pйtrochimiques.

Les technologies dйnergie renouvelable comprennent les йquipements servant а produire de lйlectricitй en tirant partie du soleil, du vent ou de la micro-hydroйlectricitй, ainsi que les technologies gйothermiques, comprenant les technologies solaires visant la production deau chaude domestique, le chauffage de lair ambiant ou encore des piscines. Nous demandons que des mesures fiscales soient disponibles pour les utilisateurs de ces technologies, tels que :

La remise des taxes de vente tant au niveau fйdйral que provincial pour tout achat visant linstallation de systиmes dйnergie renouvelable;
Des dйductions dimpфts йgales а la dйprйciation des composantes de systиmes dйnergie renouvelable, afin de promouvoir les investissements complйmentaires;
Un crйdit dimpфt йquivalent а 25\% du prix dachat de systиmes dйnergie renouvelable et de leur installation; et
Le dйveloppement de normes ACN pour les йquipements dйnergie renouvelable, en particulier pour les composantes de systиmes deau chaude domestique. Le dйlai rattachй а la rйdaction de normes pour ces derniиres, en particulier, empкchent nombre de canadiens de se prйvaloir de technologies rentables qui pourraient leur permettre de rencontrer le Dйfi dune tonne .

Nous demandons que ces incitatifs sappliquent а tout achat depuis janvier 1998, date de la tempкte de verglas menй les citoyens de lest de lOntario et de lOutaouais quйbйcois а prendre conscience de la fragilitй du rйseau dйlectricitй.