Domestic Content Deadlines for FIT Capacity Allocation Exempt (CAE) solar PV projects

Section 6.4 of the FIT Rules states that solar PV and wind projects that are capacity allocation exempt may elect to have an early milestone date for commercial operation of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011 respectively, in order to qualify for lower domestic content requirements.

The option to elect an early milestone date will no longer be available for FIT Program solar PV applications submitted after October 8, 2010, as the time required for FIT application review, project development process steps and FIT contract requirements to declare commercial operation is at least six months.

A sample timeline for a FIT capacity allocation exempt project is set out below.

• FIT application review by the OPA requires at least 60 days

• the application process and completion of the required connection impact assessment requires 60 days

• the FIT supplier’s request and the OPA’s issuance of a notice to proceed requires 20 business days

• the FIT supplier’s submission of all the documentation associated with the declaration of commercial operation and the OPA response requires 20 business days.

Solar PV project applicants therefore will no longer have the option to elect an early milestone date for commercial operation. All solar PV applications submitted electronically after October 8, 2010 will have a milestone date for commercial operation of three years from the contract date. These applications will be subject to a minimum 60 percent domestic content level for solar PV projects.

Wind project applicants that are capacity allocation exempt will still be allowed to select an early milestone date for commercial operation of December 31, 2011.