A successful model for the Ontario Green Energy Act is the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, EEG). It was created in July 2007 by Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

The following summary is taken from an article entitled EEG - The Renewable Energy Sources Act. You can download the full article at the bottom of this page.

What are the key points from the German EEG supporting the potential of a Green Energy Act for Ontario?

Canadians and the international community are on the brink of one of the greatest paradigm shifts since the start of the industrial revolution: the shift from fossil and atomic energy supplies to renewable energy sources. Three of the driving forces behind this shift are:

• The burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) to generate electricity is increasing with a corresponding increase in greenhouse gas emissions – which contribute to global climate change.
• Conventional energy supplies can barely satisfy the global hunger for energy. According to a statement from the International Energy Agency in 2007 – oil production will have reached its production peak by 2012.
• The costs of energy imports continuously rising.

Ontario, with its abundance of natural resources, has the potential to join Germany in a leading position on the global market in renewable energies. An Ontario Green Energy Act, modeled after the German EEG, would:

• Be a driving force for a new industry.
• Accelerate the adoption of renewable energies.
• Act as a unique job machine.
• Provide effective climate protection.
• Create innovations for the economy and society.

How was the German EEG created?

The German EEG was created in response to the need to move away from fossil and atomic energy supplies towards a de-centralized supply generated from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, water, biomass and geothermal.

Germany, a leader in the renewable energy sector, adopted the Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, EEG) on 1 April 2000. It is the successor tothe 1991 Electricity Feed Act (Stromeinspeisungsgesetz, StrEG) that supported the expansion of renewable energy sources, especially wind power.

The EEG introduced a fundamental change in energy supply: now any citizen could become an energy producer.

The German electricity grid operators were committed to accepting this electricity, and to paying fixed fees for it.

In just a few years this created an independent and thriving renewable energy industry that included entrepreneurs, numerous small and medium-sized business and a variety of co-operatives.

What are the economic, social and environmental benefits of the EEG?

The economic outcome of the EEG for Germany has been impressive. The net benefit of the EEG exceed the additional costs of initial investment - by 3.2 billion euros:

• In 2006 the number of people employed in the renewable energy sector increased to more than 230,000. Of these, 130,000 can be directly attributed to the EEG.
• German businesses are leading the world with a global market share of 15% (2006). Investments in electricity-generating equipment from Germany are expected to increase from 9 billion euros (2005) to an estimated 20 billion euros in 2020.
• The EEG is an effective instrument for reducing CO2 emissions.
• In 2006, renewable energy generation represented 12% of the nation’s supply. This is expected to grow to 27% by 2020 and to 45% by 2030.
• Because of the EEG, Germany will be able to reduce its dependence on energy imports

With the Green Energy Act – these benefits can also be achieved in Ontario.