Tag Archives: promote

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CURRENT POLICIES AND INCENTIVES IN ONTARIO TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF SOLAR ENERGY

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Ontario has various policies and financial incentives in place to encourage the adoption and growth of solar energy. One of the key policies is the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) Program which was launched in 2009. The FIT Program offers guaranteed prices and contracts for renewable energy systems, including solar PV, that generate electricity for 20 years. The prices offered through the FIT Program aimed to make solar energy economically viable and provided certainty for investors.

In addition to the prices paid for solar electricity, the FIT Program also includes domestic content requirements which mandate that a portion of solar projects must utilize locally sourced solar panels and components. This local content policy helped grow Ontario’s solar manufacturing industries. While the FIT Program is no longer open to new large solar projects, the existing contracts are still honoring the guaranteed prices for the full 20-year terms which continues to incentivize growth in the solar sector.

For small residential and farm-sized solar PV systems under 10 kW, Ontario offers a microFIT Program. The microFIT Program operates similarly to the FIT Program in that it provides 20-year contracts with guaranteed prices for solar electricity exported to the grid. This makes small-scale home and farm solar very financially attractive options. The microFIT Program is still open and continues to sign new small projects.

In addition to these feed-in programs, there are also several provincial rebate programs that lower the upfront costs of installing solar PV systems. The Solar Homes rebate offers a rebate of up to $10,000 off the pre-tax costs of a solar installation for eligible homes. There are also rebates available for installing solar hot water or solar air systems through programs like the Renewable Homes rebate. These rebates serve to make the initial investment in solar substantially more affordable.

At the provincial level, Ontario exempts the full assessed value of solar energy equipment from property taxes for eligible renewable energy generation systems through the Property Tax Assessment for Solar Energy Equipment Regulation. This regulation removes disincentives that might otherwise exist from higher property taxes due to adding solar equipment. The province also eliminated the debt retirement charge and smart meter entity charge from electricity bills for eligible renewable energy projects which further reduces operating costs.

In addition to direct financial supports, the Government of Ontario has enacted legislation and targets to grow the use of renewable energy. The Green Energy Act established renewable energy goals for the province, including phasing out coal-fired generation and mandated that renewable sources contribute a specified percentage of energy use each year. Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan commits to eliminating all coal-fired generation by 2030 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 37% from 1990 levels by 2030 in part by expanding solar and other renewable energy deployment. Building codes are also evolving to promote solar-ready requirements for new construction.

At the municipal level, many Ontario cities and regions have also enacted supplementary policies and incentives to spur additional solar energy adoption. Some municipalities offer property tax incentives for renewable energy. Numerous cities have approved community power programs that enable groups of residents to purchase renewable energy as a bulk purchase. Municipal zoning practices are also helping make it easier to install solar panels on homes and businesses.

Through a combination of long-term electricity purchase guarantees, upfront cost rebates, favorable tax policies and legislation mandating increased renewable energy use – Ontario has put in place a comprehensive policy framework and financial incentives aimed at making solar power cost effective and driving continued growth in the solar energy sector across the province. While some initial incentive programs have wound down, many supports remain in place and Ontario continues to see strong growth in both its small-scale and utility-scale solar industries. The multitude of provincial and municipal programs and policies have played a major role in Ontario becoming a Canadian leader in installed solar capacity.

HOW CAN I EFFECTIVELY PROMOTE MY CAPSTONE PROJECT TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS

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The capstone project you worked so hard on in your final year of studies is an excellent way to showcase your skills and talents to potential employers. With effective promotion, it can help land you job interviews and possibly even job offers. Here are some key tips for promoting your capstone project:

Develop an elevator pitch. Come up with a 150-word overview of your capstone that summarizes the problem/challenge you addressed, what you did to solve it, and the results or impact of your work. Practice delivering this pitch concisely and engage people’s interest. An elevator pitch helps potential employers quickly understand the relevance and value of your project when you have limited time to explain it.

Create project materials. Design a 1-2 page brief, an infographic, or slide deck that presents the key highlights of your capstone in a clear, visually appealing way. Include problem statement, methods, outcomes, lessons learned. Quantify results where possible with metrics, statistics or case studies. Well-designed materials help capture attention and tell the story of your work in a memorable format.

Upload project documents online. Host your project brief/deck and any additional documents on your personal website or job application profile pages like LinkedIn. Consider also uploading to public repositories like GitHub if suitable. Making your work easily accessible online for recruiters to review helps promote your capabilities beyond just your resume.

Leverage social networks. Post about your capstone on your professional networks like LinkedIn. Highlight what problems you addressed, credentials/skills used, results achieved. Engage connections by asking them to like, comment or share your update. Recruiters may see your project shared by others in their network. Maintain a professional online presence to extend the reach of your work.

Attend career fairs. Bring multiple copies of your 1-pager or infographic to share with recruiters at campus or industry career fairs. Reference your capstone when introducing yourself and be ready to discuss how it showcases your skills/fit for potential roles. Career fairs let you directly promote your work and qualifications to a targeted live audience of hiring managers.

Reach out to contacts. Leverage any connections you have at companies where you’d like to work through alumni networks, mentors or professors. Proactively share your capstone brief/materials with them and inquire about any potential openings or referrals. Personalized referrals can open doors that websites alone may not.

Customize your resume. Include your capstone as a dedicated bullet point under ‘Projects’ or within your work experience. Mention the skills, technologies and impact. Consider including a link to project materials. Customizing highlights your capabilities for specific roles and shows connections between your experience and employer needs.

Practice stories. Turn your elevator pitch into a 2-3 minute story highlighting challenges, approaches taken and results for your oral communications. Relate experiences from your project to potential job responsibilities. Storytelling helps recruiters visualize you tackling similar problems in their organization through vivid, memorable examples.

Send targeted emails. Research companies and roles of interest, then email hiring managers a brief personalized note referencing your qualifications and attached 1-pager. Mention any aligned experiences or mutual contacts. Targeted outreach introduces your work directly to those hiring. Address multiple roles when possible to increase your exposure.

Follow up strategically. Try to connect on LinkedIn or via email with anyone who viewed your materials online to answer any other questions they may have. Express enthusiasm for opportunities discussed at career fairs weeks later by referencing conversations. Strategic follow up through multiple channels reinforces your interest and qualifications over time as positions become available.

These tips provide an effective framework for thoughtfully promoting your capstone project to potential employers through diverse media and personal connections. With dedicated effort, your work sample can become a powerful asset for landing job interviews and career starts that leverage your skills and passion. Best of luck leveraging all you learned!