APPrO

Welcome to APPrO's website, the prime site for electricity generators in Canada. You can find here all kinds of information about power production in Canada, and the range of options for making electricity in the most economic and environmentally-friendly ways available today. You can also use this site to learn more about APPrO and the critical public policy issues we are working on - to ensure there are affordable and sustainable power supplies well into the future. Please visit our membership area for information on how to become a member or our conference site for information on our annual Canadian Power Conference, the leading event of its type in Canada.

APPrO was founded in 1986 as the Independent Power Producers' Society of Ontario. The organization has grown to represent over 95% of the Ontario electricity market, more than 30,000 MW of power generation capacity. This site now incorporates the website previously known as 'Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems in Canada.'
Click one of the buttons at the left for more information on APPrO’s vision statement, the benefits of membership, our publications, our annual conference, and much more.
Canadian Sustainable Energy Pioneers Win Probyn Prize

November 16, 2011 – Robert McLeese and his late father Willis McLeese are this year’s recipients of the Stephen Probyn Prize for their remarkable achievements in the clean energy business, and for their work that has had a positive impact on climate change and sustainable development.

“For decades, Robert McLeese and his father have continued to innovate and take unprecedented steps to ensure renewable energy projects got off the ground. The McLeeses are amongst a handful of individuals who created the framework that allows us today to produce renewable energy so effectively,” said David Butters, President of APPrO. “For these reasons, they are the perfect candidates for the Probyn Prize as they had the vision to see the potential of renewable energy and took bold steps to make it a reality.”

The father and son team began developing a portfolio of sustainable energy projects in the 1980s and broke into the Canadian market in the 1990s, providing many small and medium-sized companies the funding and development support needed to invest in environmental projects. Their leadership has allowed for significant advances in the sustainable energy sector; providing counsel and financial support, which helped to ensure the implementation of countless power projects across Canada and the USA. Some of these projects include:

· White River (White River, Ontario): Financial advisor to the project, now in the final throes of construction planning and fundraising, for two hydro projects which will produce 95,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually.

· United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising First Nations (UCCMM) (Manitoulin Island, Ontario): Advisor to UCCMM regarding the development and financing of their portion of a 60 megawatt wind farm project.

· Potter Station Power (Timmins, Ontario): Financial advisor who assisted with development and financing of a 6 megawatt waste heat recovery project which evolved into a 42 megawatt (approx.) waste heat recovery and gas fired project.

· Piney Creek Limited Partnership (Clarion, Pennsylvania): Advisor on purchase, financing, and optimization of a 33 megawatt waste coal fired power plant (270,000 megawatt-hours of annual production) - Winner of 2001 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

· Colmac Energy (Mecca, California): 47 megawatt biomass project – developed, financed, constructed, and operated (360,000 megawatt-hours per year of production).

The Probyn Prize

The Probyn Prize commemorates the leadership of the late Stephen Probyn who was one of the originators of Canada’s green energy industry, a leading financier in the sector, and one of the world’s foremost authorities on renewable energy development.

Commenting on the award win, Robert McLeese said: “I am thrilled to receive the Probyn Prize and hope it sends a positive message that encourages other Canadian businesses to see the environmental development opportunities in the power generation market. It is truly an honour working with such great Canadian companies helping to develop predictable renewable energy solutions.”

Robert McLeese accepted the Probyn Prize on behalf of himself and his late father at APPrO’s annual banquet dinner, attended by more than 500 members of Canada’s energy and sustainable development industry, on November 15, 2011. Winners of the prize are presented with a three-foot bronze sculpture by leading Canadian artist Colin Gibson and the opportunity to direct a donation of $10,000 to a registered charity of their choice. Robert McLeese will donate the prize funds to Ontario-based Georgian Riding Association for Challenged Equestrians (GRACE) located in Owen Sound, near the McLeeses’ environmentally sustainable Cobble Beach Golf Resort and Spa.

Robert McLeese

Rob McLeese is currently the President and founder of Access Capital, a company dedicated to independent power project financing. McLeese is a Past President of IPPSO (the Independent Power Producers’ Society of Ontario) and past Chairman of the Toronto Board of Trade Electricity Task Force. He is also a past Director and Treasurer of the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, a past Member of the Board of Management of the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Energy and a past Director of Creststreet Power and Income Fund which developed three wind farms totaling 149 megawatts. In his current role, Robert McLeese has assisted Access Capital in successfully completing over $1.8 billion in independent power project financing.

Willis McLeese

One of the early leaders in Ontario’s independent power industry, Willis McLeese initiated the development of a 47 megawatt biomass fuelled electric generating station in California that provides power sufficient to supply about 50,000 homes. That business grew to include locations in Pennsylvania, Utah and Montana and eventually Canada. Climate change became his focus over the last fifteen years of his career, addressing issues between civil society, the private sector, and all levels of government. He was drawn towards change that was sustainable, where businesspeople, policymakers and activists could find common ground and balance economic, political and environmental goals. Along with his son, Rob McLeese, the family has been one of the leading voices for independent power production in Ontario. Willis McLeese passed away on January 5, 2011.

APPrO is a non-profit organization representing more than 100 companies involved in the generation of electricity in Ontario, including generators and suppliers of services, equipment and consulting services. APPrO members produce power from co-generation, hydro-electric, gas, coal, nuclear, wind energy, waste wood and other sources. APPrO's members currently produce over 98% of the electricity made in Ontario.

For the first 17 years of its operation, the organization was known as IPPSO, the Independent Power Producers' Society of Ontario. In 2002, when Ontario's electricity market was officially opened to competition, the organization began a process in which it broadened its scope to include more generators, and changed its name to APPrO, the Association of Power Producers of Ontario.

Why join APPrO

Encouraging investment in new generation for Ontario to ensure an affordable and reliable supply of power at reasonable cost is a major Ontario government priority. As the respected and credible voice of generators in Ontario, APPrO members play a pivotal role in the development of this new capacity and the broader energy policies and market design which will underpin the success of Ontario’s electricity restructuring efforts.

As a member of APPrO, your organization can contribute to the development and communication of industry positions, and take part in industry initiatives and government consultations to ensure that your voice is heard.


APPrO’s mission: promoting the interests of generators

APPrO's mission is 'To promote the interests of electricity generators within a truly open and competitive power industry in Ontario.'

APPrO's objective is a sustainable electricity market that:

1. Provides a healthy and equitable business environment

2. Supports a reliable and secure electricity supply in Ontario

3. Supports all forms of generation technologies

4. Promotes the increasing use of renewable energy generation

5. Leads to lower environmental impact from all electrical generation technologies

APPrO’s focus: advocacy

APPrO exists to ensure that the market for electrical production is competitive, efficient, open to new entrants, and as fair as possible. That is why APPrO’s primary focus is advocacy for generators -- APPrO actively monitors, assesses and participates directly in the development of crucial elements of Ontario's electricity sector:

* Supply procurement policy and process

* Energy policy and regulation

* Market design and market rules

* Financial and Regulatory regimes

* Environmental policy and regulation

* Competition policy and market power

* Inter-jurisdictional and 'seams' issues

Through a series of advocacy committees which focus on key areas of concern to the industry, APPrO maximizes its impact by working directly with the various agencies responsible for the issues in question. APPrO also maintains close ties with the financial community to ensure that improved conditions for new investment are always in mind when regulatory decisions are being made.

APPrO Services

The services APPrO provides to its members are managed in three broad categories: Advocacy, Publications, and Events.

Advocacy

APPrO's advocacy services have attracted a group of supporters representing nearly all generators of electricity in Ontario. APPRO is regularly consulted by the government, the market operator, the regulator as well as the media and other stakeholders on energy policy and market design matters. For a complete description of the work of the various committees (including the IMO Committee, NUG Contracts Committee, Environment and Green Power Committee, and Distributed Generation Committee) please contact the APPrO office.

Publications

APPrO's publications include the bi-monthly IPPSO FACTO magazine, one of Canada's leading publications in the electricity sector. APPrO also publishes the Canadian Power Directory, a catalogue of developers, equipment suppliers, service suppliers, utilities, government agencies, and resource groups for the power industry in Canada. Sample copies of the above, and a publication list are available on request.

Conferences

APPrO hosts the Canadian Power Conference and Trade Show every fall, an event which has become a key landmark in the sector. Attended by hundreds of professionals, it attracts top executives from government, industry and the regulatory agencies to discuss the latest issues and focus on how to promote the development of a more competitive market in Ontario.

Results

APPrO's advocacy has contributed to improvement in a number of important areas for power producers. APPrO's predecessor IPPSO was one of the forces that helped convince the Ontario government to end the monopoly of the former Ontario Hydro and implement a competitive market for electricity in the province.

Over the years, APPrO has raised awareness and understanding of its members' concerns with senior decision-makers in government, regulatory bodies and the public at large. Through its consistent record of insightful and constructive input, top-notch spokespeople, landmark conferences and widely respected publications, APPrO has earned status as a key stakeholder in

Ontario's energy sector that ensures it will be consulted on any major developments of concern. APPrO has formally intervened in public hearings and policy development consultations too numerous to mention here.

In recent years, APPrO's efforts have led to important successes in the areas of ramp rates, net load billing for network transmission services, and a range of changes in various technical rules and procedures. Recently, APPrO has worked closely with the Ontario government to ensure that the concerns and perspectives of the APPrO members are reflected in the various procurement processes now in operation in the province. APPrO will continue to advocate for fair access to the market for all generators, reasonable terms for interconnection to the electric grid, a more efficient system in the future, and lower costs for all users of the electric system in Ontario.

APPrO has achieved its results partly through collaboration with other stakeholders in multilateral structures. A short list of some of the groups with which APPrO or its members have played an active role include the following:
· The Market Design Committee
· The Senate of Canada Energy Committee
· The Stakeholders Alliance for Competition and Customer Choice
· The Select Committee on Energy (of the Ontario Legislature)
· The Policy Advisory Committee on Energy
· The Technical Panel and Market Commissioning Task Force of the IMO
· The Green Energy Coalition
· The Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance
· Distributed Generation Industry Task Force

Help us promote competition, open markets, fair access for new entrants, environmental responsibility, orderly investment and efficiency, by becoming a member of APPrO today. We are at your service.

Power Generation Technologies represented by APPrO members:
Co-generation
Combined cycle
Small hydro
Biomass
Wind Energy
District Heating and Cooling
Distributed Generation
Micro-turbines

APPrO members include:

Generators
Marketers
Contractors
Equipment suppliers
Consultants
LDCs
Fuel suppliers
Service providers
Financiers
Individuals

APPrO has over 100 members, with more than 30,000 MW in Ontario and tens of thousands more worldwide. To name just a few, there are:
Northland Power
TransAlta
Ontario Power Generation Inc.
Sithe Energies
Great Lakes Power
Bruce Power
AES Tractebel
Calpine
TransCanada Energy
EPCOR Ontario

APPrO outlines its vision

Speaking to the annual power producers’ banquet dinner hosted by APPrO on November 14, APPrO President David Butters laid out the principles and priorities that the organization has developed to move forward with development in the Ontario electricity sector.

“The preferred direction for evolution has been developed and reviewed with APPrO members and leaders in the power generation industry extensively for more than a year,” Butters said. “We believe we have been able to identify key principles that are widely accepted as necessary for healthy development of the sector, and we hope to build on these as we move forward in discussions with decision makers at all levels.”

The principles are summarized as follows: 

APPrO’s Mission

• The achievement of an economically and environmentally sustainable electricity sector in Ontario that supports the business interests of electricity generators including a reasonable rate of return.

Goals for Evolution of the Electricity Sector:

• Encourage efficient and timely investment in Ontario’s power system to ensure adequacy and reliability.

• Produce the optimal electricity cost for Ontario consumers.

Principles for Evolution:

1. Decisions affecting the power sector should be made on an economically rational basis

2. Prices should reflect the true cost/value of production.

3. Robust competition among generators is a critical factor in achieving the optimal electricity cost for Ontario consumers.

4. Public and private sector entities should compete on a level playing field.

5. Markets with multiple sellers and buyers are the most effective way to harness the benefits of competition.

6. Stable and predictable public policy is critical to efficient investment and effective markets.

APPrO’s preferred direction for evolution:

1. The Electricity Conservation & Supply Task Force vision should continue to guide sector evolution.

2. An incremental approach, building on the current “hybrid market” should be employed to move toward an enhanced competitive market (i.e., one with multiple buyers and sellers, which operate on a level playing field, in the absence of undue market power).

3. Electricity trade should be organized primarily around long-term bilateral contracts, with the real time market used primarily for balancing.

4. Regardless, long-term commitments to backstop investment must continue to be in place to incent new supply.