Developers will be required to have a certain percentage of their project costs come from Ontario goods and labour at the time they reach commercial operation. 

• For windpower projects over 10 kW, the requirement will start at 25 percent and increase to 50 percent on January 1, 2012. There are no domestic content requirements for windpower projects 10 kW or less in size.
• For micro solar PV (10 kW or smaller) projects, the requirement will start at 40 percent and increase to 60 percent on January 1, 2011.
• For larger solar PV projects, the requirement will start at 50 percent and increase to 60 percent on January 1, 2011.

The percentage requirements are assessed on the total project cost. If designated activities are done in Ontario, developers receive a qualifying percentage towards their domestic content requirement. Criteria for designated activities range from manufacturing certain components in Ontario to retaining labour and consulting services provided by Ontario residents.

Developers will be required to have a certain percentage of their project costs come from Ontario goods and labour at the time they reach commercial operation. 

• For windpower projects over 10 kW, the requirement will start at 25 percent and increase to 50 percent on January 1, 2012. There are no domestic content requirements for windpower projects 10 kW or less in size.
• For micro solar PV (10 kW or smaller), the requirement will start at 40 percent and increase to 60 percent on January 1, 2011.

The definition of "domestic content" is in Section 6.4 (a) of the FIT Program Rules as follows: 

(a) The FIT Contract will require that Contract Facilities utilizing windpower with a Contract Capacity greater than 10 kW, or Contract Facilities utilizing solar (PV), achieve a minimum percentage for their Domestic Content Level, which will be set out on the FIT Contract Cover Page (the "Minimum Required Domestic Content Level").

(i) For windpower Projects with a Contract Capacity greater than 10 kW, the Minimum Required Domestic Content Level is 25% for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone Date For Commercial Operation prior to January 1, 2012 and 50% for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone Date For Commercial Operation on or after January 1, 2012.

(ii) For solar (PV) Projects with a Contract Capacity greater than 10 kW, the Minimum Required Domestic Content Level is 50% for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone Date for Commercial Operation prior to January 1, 2011 and 60% for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone Date For Commercial Operation on or after January 1, 2011.

(iii) For solar (PV) Projects with a Contract Capacity less than or equal to 10 kW, the Minimum Required Domestic Content Level is 40% for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone Date for Commercial Operation prior to January 1, 2011 and 60% for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone Date For Commercial Operation on or after January 1, 2011.

Projects of any renewable technology that have a capacity of 500 kW or less and were purchased or were in service by 11:59 p.m. on October 1, 2009 will be eligible to transition to the FIT and microFIT Programs. They will be deemed to have met the domestic content requirements.

Generators who have not been operating under an OPA contract will receive a 20-year FIT or microFIT contract. Generators who have been operating under a RESOP contract will obtain a contract representing the balance of the 20-year FIT or microFIT contract.

For more details, please refer to the Transition Options FAQs or the Transition Options webpage.

Renewable energy projects that are installed following the introduction of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act will be eligible to participate in the FIT Program, provided they meet the eligibility requirements, including requirements for domestic content.