Kitchener-based community group awarded $70,000 solar panel system for winning green energy video contest

Sep 28th, 2011 4:36 AM

Media Release Other winners from Little Current and Toronto (September 28, 2011) On behalf of the Mennonite Central Committee of Ontario (MCC Ontario), Kitchener resident and film-maker Ken Ogasawara was awarded the grand prize of a 10kW solar PV system, after winning the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association's (www.ontario-sea.org) WattsNEXT? green energy video contest. The WattsNEXT? video contest invited Ontarians to share how green energy and conservation are transforming their communities, and making them healthier and more prosperous places to live. Winning videos were determined by which had the most online views. Ken Ogasawara's winning video, titled Go Big or Go Small (http://WattsNext.ca/v/14) received 4,759 views. MCC Ontario plan to install the solar PV system at the new, eco-friendly building they are designing. The grand prize was donated by AS Solar Inc., Ontario's largest solar distributor. Ian Karleff, managing director of AS Solar, commented, "The donation of a 10 kilowatt solar system to the Mennonite Central Committee of Ontario, with the support of OSM Solar Corp. from Welland, as part of the WattsNEXT? campaign, is a great example of what distributed power generation can produce -- hundreds of thousands of dollars over 20 years for this organization, to do even more great work for communities in need." The 2nd place prize was awarded to Colin Jeffery, for the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy in Little Current, Ontario, and the 3rd place prize to Stephen Bowes, for the Matthew House Refugee Reception Services in Toronto. Both will receive $2000 green energy bursaries. The awards were announced before an audience of over 250 people at Queen's Park last Saturday, as part of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association's Green Energy Field Day. The day featured businesses, organizations, farms and community centers across the province, which opened their doors and showcased their green energy projects to interested members of the community. Events were held in 21 cities across Ontario. -30- Digital images are available of the Queen's Park event, as well as other Green Energy Field Day events in Caledon, Cobden, Chute-à-Blondeau, Innerkip, Mississauga, Scarborough, Toronto and Wolfe Island. For more information, please contact: Nicole Risse, 416.977.4441 x 5205, nicole@ontario-sea.org The Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) works to initiate, facilitate and support the work of local sustainable energy organizations through membership services and province wide capacity-building and non-partisan policy work. It promotes the benefits of Community Power and renewable energy through advocacy, public outreach and capacity building.

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Kitchener-based community group awarded $70,000 solar panel system for winning green energy video contest

Sep 28th, 2011 4:36 AM