Ontario's solar program is a good thing. Its the start of a new way to deliver electricty that is clean and local, and lets consumers choose the source of their power.

Is solar electricity more expensive? Today, yes, but PV system costs are dropping at 5% per year. In Ontario's climate solar generated kilowatt hours will be cheaper than the retail rates in about a decade. Solar programs like the one in Ontario will accelerate the price decreases and shorten the time to grid parity - where solar kilowatt-hours are cheaper than coal and natural gas.

Kudos to the province of Ontario for taking positive steps to address electricity supply and climate change. Waiting for "research" to solve our problems is the Ostrich approach. I want my kids to live in a better Canada, with secure, clean energy, and Ontario's program shows some progress towards that.

Isn't Maclean's anti-green power stance a bit wayward considering the looming problems in Canada's electric supply? Where is the new electricity a growing Ontario needs going to come from? How does Ontario transition to more carbon free electricity?

Consider the advantages of solar: It's on roofs, close to where it's being used. No transmission issues and no vulnerable large scale generators. Its is a reliable source - not hourly, but annually. Of course its GHG free, silent and rarely do people complain about how it looks. Solar should not be dismissed because its not 100% of the cure. But it could be 10%.