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Community-owned green energy projects helping to drive new business in Northern Ontario - Environmental Communication Options/Huff Strategy

Community-owned green energy projects helping to drive new business in Northern Ontario

Apr 21st, 2015 11:59 AM

Save the earth - and the economy (April 21, 2015) This Earth Day marks a major turning point for both our planet and our global economy, with a surge in the use of zero emissions renewable energy. According to a new report from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), there was a 31% jump in renewable energy sector investment across Canada in 2014 with $8 billion spent on developing green energy projects. Across the north, co-ops are developing projects in Sudbury, Blind River and Timiskaming that will help meet local power needs while creating new local business opportunities. “These are very exciting times for renewable energy. Costs have dropped significantly, technology has improved, and electricity system managers have made the leap on integrating these new energy sources. The result is a big upswing in jobs and investment in this sector, exactly what our country needs right now with our oil sector stalling out and the threat of climate change growing,” says Judith Lipp, President of the Federation of Community Power Cooperatives (FCPC). An important part of the renewable energy growth story is the role of community-owned energy projects. Solar, wind, biogas and biomass projects owned by community co-ops, public institutions and municipalities are delivering triple bottom line returns for communities, including jobs and revenue, environmental benefits, and more resilient local energy systems. “In Ontario, community co-ops have already raised more than $25 million from community members through bond and share sales to support local green energy projects and we’re just getting started,” says Ambrose Raftis of the Green Timiskaming Development Co-operative. The UNEP report makes it clear how a combination of falling costs and improving technology is making green energy the “go to” source of energy worldwide, with 30% more power being put online per dollar invested today compared to 2011. The UNEP report estimates that 2014’s record amount of global renewable energy investment will provide enough zero emission energy to displace 1.3 gigatonnes of CO2 worldwide, the equivalent of eliminating almost all of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions twice over. “Ontario made a smart decision to take a leadership role in what is now a booming worldwide industry,” points out Lipp. “Our U.S. neighbours are now installing a solar system every two minutes. Here in Ontario, wind power is already cheaper than new nuclear reactors and we will certainly see even lower prices for all renewable sources in the next round of project procurement.” Lipp acknowledges that renewable energy development has not been without controversy in Ontario, which is why she believes that community involvement is invaluable. “Studies and real-life experience have both shown that where community members are part of a project, concern about renewable energy largely vanishes,” she points out. “Community ownership can really take wind and solar projects further by involving the community in selecting locations, raising investment dollars, and keeping jobs and investment returns in the local area.” “The community power sector is, in many ways, the untold success story of Ontario’s green energy efforts,” adds Raftis. “We are making renewable energy work for local communities while also making sure our communities benefit from being a part of one of the world’s fastest growing industries.” For further information, contact: Judith Lipp, President Federation of Community Power Co-ops (416) 583-2661 jlipp@fcpcoops.ca fcpcoops.ca Ambrose Raftis Green Timiskaming Development Co-operative (705) 544-7722 info@greentimiskaming.ca greentimiskaming.ca
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Community Power Backgrounder Green energy co-ops with projects in Northern Ontario Community Energy Development Co-operative Website: http://cedco-op.com Projects built or contracts awarded: 11 Phone: (519) 279-4045 Toll Free: (855) 274-6890 Fax: (519) 279-4631 Email: info@cedco-op.com Green Timiskaming Development Co-operative Website: http://www.greentimiskaming.ca Projects built or contracts awarded: 10 Contact: Ambrose Raftis Phone: (705) 544-7722 Phone: (877) 880-6961 ext. 229 E-mail: info@greentimiskaming.ca Simcoe County Community Energy Co-operative Projects built or contracts awarded: 36 Contact: Ken Rounds Phone: (705) 333-1373 E-mail: k.rounds@sccec.ca Sudbury Unlimited eNergy Co-operative Website: http://suncooperative.com Projects built or contracts awarded: TBD Phone: (705) 674-1685 E-mail: sudburysolarcoop@gmail.com
1 http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/Blog/ontarios-quiet-energy-revolution-has-lessons-/blog/51036/ 2 http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/24/2988171/rooftop-solar-cut-peak-demand/ 3 Wind energy saves consumers money during the Polar Vortex - available at awea.org 4 Tracking the Energy Revolution: 2014 - available at http://cleanenergycanada.org/works/trackingtherevolution2014