Solar company sues Ontario for $100M - Action News
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Solar company sues Ontario for $100M

In the latest blow against the Ontario Liberal's green energy plan, Canada's biggest solar energy firm is suing the province for $100 million.

In the latest blow against the Ontario Liberal's green energy plan, Canada's biggest solar energy firm is suing the province for $100 million.

The SkyPower Group is launchingthe lawsuitover changes Premier Dalton McGuinty's government made to the energy program, including cutting the price it will pay for solar energy.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty inspects a solar module as he tours the Celestia plant in Toronto last year. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

SkyPower had applied to build more than 100 solar projects in Ontario by this past April when the province announced the price changes and new criteria for approving projects.

"The government changed the rules of the game," Toronto lawyer Tim Gilbert said."We say simply that's unfair. Most people would agree it's not fair to change the rules of a process after you've relied upon it."

SkyPower says the changes are unreasonable and would kill many of its projects.

The company wants the courts to strike down the changesand wants its projectsre-considered under the old rules.

Without that, it's looking for$100 millionin damages.

Energy Minister Chris Bentley said in a statement that the government will vigorously defend the lawsuit.

Bentleypoints out the green-energy rules had been under review.

The governmentwas already being suedforputting a moratorium last year on offshore wind power projects.

With files from CBC's Mike Crawley