Real Estate
Solar panels mean more legal
issues with properties
T
he Valecon Group seized
the opportunity when
under the Green Energy
Act the Ontario government launched a program
to buy clean energy at a price reflecting
the higher costs of producing it. Having
12 large industrial buildings, all with
flat roofs, the Markham, Ont. developer
jumped right in, bidding and winning
seven solar contracts under the pro20
March
2013
www.CANADIAN
vincial feed-in-tariff program. Three
of the rooftop installations are running
and earning a monthly income, while
another four are expected to be built by
spring. One of the buildings approved
for a solar FIT installation has been
sold.
���We set up our own solar company and the solar company entered
into a lease with the landlord,��� explains
Andrew Biller, Valecon���s chief finan-
L a w ye r m a g . c o m
cial officer. The two are now independent, making the sale of the building
easier. The building���s new owner has
the option of continuing the lease with
Valecon���s solar branch. Valecon is also
investigating the possibility of installing
the panels on another one of its buildings.
By relying more on clean electricity generated by solar, wind, and
other alternative methods, there is less
Matthew Daley
By Marg. Bruineman
