Over the last few years, many of TREC's and our partners' successes in building new renewable energy projects across Ontario have been due to the Green Energy Act and Feed-in-Tariff program. We have been incredibly proud of the leadership Ontario has taken to phase out coal-generated power and encourage energy conservation and renewable energy generation in our province.

Now, the future of the Green Energy Act is in jeopardy, due to a recently introduced Private Member's Bill, which would effectively revoke the program. Bill 39 was tabled on March 26th and is set to be debated, and then put to a vote regarding whether it gets a Second Reading on Thursday April 18, 2013.

For those of us that support a green energy future for Ontario, it is important that we show our support and raise the pro-renewables voice over the next week and beyond.

1. Call or visit your MPP's constituency office before April 18th 2013 to communicate your objection to Bill 39!
2. Sign the petition "Ontario MPPs: We support renewable energy in Ontario
3. Forward this info to your contacts and share on Facebook and twitter.

While many do not believe this Bill will pass, we do believe the government is watching to see the extent to which Ontarians support green energy by how vocal they are in opposition to this Bill.

The best ACTION to take at this time is to CALL YOUR MPP or visit their constituency office in person and share with them that you are a member of their constituency with a community power project under development that engages and benefits a significant number of other local citizens.
Click here to refer to suggested speaking points and a backgrounder on Bill 39. 
If you do not know who your MPP is, here is how you can find out: First, click here to find your Electoral District (ED). You can then find the MPP who represents your ED here.

By speaking out, you will help to ensure that the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation gains that took years of grassroots efforts to achieve are protected. Please also help us spread the word, Ontarians have a right to know that Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation are under attack.

Summary of Bill 39:

• The Bill enacts a new Act to deal with industrial wind turbines.
• No person is allowed to install or operate an industrial wind turbine unless authorized by a by-law of the municipality where the turbine is located. The installation or operation of industrial wind turbines is entirely prohibited in the Niagara Escarpment Planning Area or the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan Area.
• The Bill amends the Electricity Act, 1998 to prohibit the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) from entering into contracts for the procurement of electricity supply or capacity derived from renewable energy sources unless the price for the supply or capacity does not exceed the price that would be payable if the supply or capacity were derived from non-renewable energy sources.
• The Bill terminates the feed-in tariff program that the OPA has developed to procure energy from renewable energy sources.
• The Bill amends the Green Energy Act, 2009 to allow municipalities, by by-law, to restrict the use of goods, services and technologies designed to promote energy conservation and to restrict activities with respect to renewable energy projects, renewable energy sources or renewable energy testing projects.
• The Bill amends the Planning Act to reverse the effect of the amendments made to the Act by Schedule K to the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009. Those amendments exempted renewable energy undertakings from the normal application of the Planning Act, including policy statements, provincial plans, official plans, demolition control by-laws, zoning by-laws and development permit regulations and by-laws.

TREC's SolarShare program currently has several Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) contracts for its community-owned solar PV projects across Ontario. We are hoping to secure more FIT contracts so we can continue to expand and create new opportunities for Ontarians to invest in renewable energy sources.

Similarly, the future of our LakeWind project is contingent on Green Energy Act approvals and securing a FIT contract. 

TREC will continue to push for community power in Ontario, and we hope that you will take a few minutes out of your week to show your support for our efforts, and help us build the green energy future that we need!

The Minister of Energy has issued a new directive to the OPA, this one released on Friday, November 23^rd issuing clarifying parameters for the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program.  The re-launch is to occur “as soon as possible”.  Since the FIT review began, there have been many rule changes including the long-awaited focus on strengthening community participation and re-launching the Community Energy Partnerships Program (CEPP).  To find out more read the OPA news release here

Or

Download the complete FIT Directive document

Toronto, July 31^st, 2012

Despite the best of intentions, Ontario’s Feed-In tariff (FIT) program has resulted in contentious debates over green energy in the province.  Community participation in projects have long been a suggested solution, but community power proponents have had limited success to date. A new Federation of Community Power Co-operatives intends to change all that under new FIT rules anticipated any day. By unifying the co-op sector under one umbrella, setting standards and sharing resources, the Federation expects to support at least 100 MW of community-controlled projects by 2015.  

Debates over land-use, energy prices and the impact of renewable energy have been a challenge for Ontario’s Green Energy and Economy Act and Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program. But with a recent Energy Minister Directive, new FIT rules will contain explicit provisos for co-ops and First Nations that are developing renewable energy projects, with the goal of greater citizen support through community participation, ownership and profit-sharing.

In response to these rules, community power co-ops are coming together under a new umbrella organization – the Federation of Community Power Co-operatives (FCPC) – to facilitate co-op led project development at the highest possible standards by sharing collective experiences, expertise, knowledge and tested development tools and resources.

“The depth of experience among the Federation is significant and we want to leverage that expertise to build a thriving community power sector in Ontario, one in which every citizen has the opportunity to generate and own his/her local power supply.” says Judith Lipp, Chair of FCPC and Executive Director of TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative.

“The FIT program has been controversial because people don’t feel they’re taking part in the current energy transition,” says Deb Doncaster, head of the Community Power Fund.  “Co-ops are attractive because every community can now have a direct economic stake in local projects, and thus in the program as a whole.”

Community power co-ops help improve Ontario’s green energy experience by enabling more community involvement in project development and redistributing the economic benefits of green energy generation back to the local community. Any resident of Ontario can join a community power co-op and as a member, invest in the co-op’s renewable energy projects and have a say in the co-op’s activities.

The new FIT rules (known as FIT 2.0) prioritize community projects through a “points” system and “set-aside” of 10% capacity for renewable energy projects that are majority owned by co-ops and aboriginal communities. FIT 2.0 is a strong signal to encourage public participation in building Ontario’s renewable energy infrastructure,”

“In forming the Federation of Community Power Co-operatives, the sector is practicing one of its core principles, co-operation among co-operatives – a fitting development in this, the International Year of Co-operatives” says Shane Mulligan of LIFE Co-op in Kitchener-Waterloo.

The goal is to work collectively towards maximizing the set-aside allocation, creating efficiencies and best practices and in the long run, putting community power on the map in a way we have seen in places like Denmark and Germany where citizens own up to 50% of all renewable energy generation.

Lipp says the Federation is eager to help other co-ops and proponents of renewable power, and encourages them to join the conversation. “Community power has a great future if we work together to make it happen,”

Media contacts:

Judith Lipp, Chair, Federation of Community Power Co-operatives

jlipp@trec.on.ca / 416 977 5093, ext. 2340 / 647 701 6032

Shane Mulligan, Steering Committee FCPC and LIFE Co-op (Kitchener-Waterloo)

shane@lifecoop.ca   / 1-866-889-9155

Its exciting to see the growing interest in the renewable energy (RE) co-op model as a result of the FIT 2.0 rules. Of course, its still unclear on exactly what the rules will look like and what it will mean for our prospective and/or existing projects, but at least community power is enjoying some profile among energy developers. Next step, building projects!

In anticipation of an upsurge in CP activity the Co-operative Network for Community Power (CNCP) is trying to tackle a number of key barriers that have challenged the sector to date. Since the inaugural webinar earlier this spring many conversations and meetings have been had and there are several updates to report – CNCP UPDATE REPORT_May12

The TREC team was very pleased to be able to show off the Festival to the Minister of Energy, Chris Bentley, today. 

With almost 400 kids in attendance, Day 4 was kicked off with a welcome address by the Minister.  On his tour of our event he met a few of our Renewable Energy Design Challenge students from Lawrence Heights Middle School, who explained their wind turbine designs. Then it was off to learn about turbine engineering concepts at our Capture the Wind workshop, where kids test which size and style of blade is most effective at driving the volt meter in our model turbines.   

Next was Solar 101 where the Minister helped students learn the basics of solar power first hand. At the Commitment Tree, the Minister joined the kids in making a making a commitment to the environment to be pasted on our model tree.  And what is his commitment? He promises to turn off the lights!

On his way out he met several Festival sponsors and content providers: Kiosk Solar, Mortensen Construction, SolarShare Energy Co-op and ZooShare Energy Co-op. 

We’re looking forward to inviting everyone to the Festival tomorrow when we open it to the general public.  We’ll be next to the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday.  Come by to learn about our exciting work, get involved in a few activities and go home feeling inspired about a renewable energy future. 

Stay tuned for Day 4 and visit from the Minister of Energy tomorrow. 

Our Kids's World of Energy Festival got off to a brilliant start this morning at the Evergreen Brick Works, blue skies and all!.  In our fifth year of putting on this magnificent event, even the first day doesn't phase us anymore. 

Between TREC Education's excellent staff, committed volunteers and enthusiast workshop leaders we delivered a day full of energy fun and learning for the 500+ students participating on the first day of the Festival.

It was great to see the unique and informative workshops of some of our sponsors, notably Kiosk Solar with their model solar house and Morteson Construction, presenting on how to build a wind farm.  We're always grateful to the many content providers that make our event a little different every year. 

And of course, a big thanks to our Sponsors who enable us to reach as many kids as we do: Gold Sponsors Toronto Hydro and Kiosk Solar; Silver Sponsors HSBC, Mortenson Construction and the Canadian Wind Energy Association and Bronze Sponsors Bullfrog Power, Recurrent Energy, Portlands Energy Centre, Public Mobile and PCL Renewable Energy. 

The forecast is a little cooler and wetter tomorrow, but we anticipate another excellent day with new kids and many smiling faces. 

Don't forget the public day on Saturday - where you too can join the Festivities - at Evergreen Brick Works in the Don Valley (9 am - 2 pm)

KWEF Press Release

From May 15^th – 19^th, 2012, in Toronto, Ontario – TREC Education’s fifth annual Kids’ World of Energy Festival will educate and inspire students and families in topics of renewable energy, energy conservation and the science of energy through one-of-a-kind, hands-on, interactive activities. Be it cooking s’mores in a solar oven, generating electricity with model wind turbines and solar panels, or powering light bulbs with bicycles - there is no shortage of new ideas and unforgettable experiences.

From Tuesday to Friday, May 15-18, approximately 3,000 students will participate in the Festival – the palpable excitement and children’s eyes lighting up with genuine “eureka moments” will provide excellent photo-ops, visuals and sound bites. In addition, on Saturday, May 19^th, for the “public festival day”, approximately 1,500 family members will participate in more hands-on energy and environmental themed activities at the Festival.

Kirstan Vanstone, TREC’s Education Director, highlights the value of the annual event: “The Festival is a unique opportunity for students to connect with important issues in a really fun, meaningful way.  We hope to create lasting experiences that students can take with them as they begin making decisions on how they will consume energy and resources.”

One past student participant from the festival explained some valuable lessons learned from one of the festival activities he attended: “It taught me not to be greedy when using resources.”

As the Ontario government, private sector and citizens continue to chart the path for Ontario as a North American green energy leader – the Festival plays a vital role in ensuring the next generation and the public are informed and engaged in the renewable energy conversation.

What: 2012 Kids’ World of Energy Festival

When: May 15^th – 19^th 2012

Best time for media: May 15^th – May 17^th 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4W 3X8 

About TREC Education:

Using the wind turbine that TREC launched with Toronto Hydro as the foundation of all our programs, we work to educate Ontarians about the link between their energy habits and environmental impacts through renewable energy tours, curriculum‐linked workshops and hands‐on activities related to renewable energy. TREC Education now delivers TREC’s educational programs and reaches over 25,000 students, youth, families and professional groups each year. In 2011, TREC Education received the Green Toronto Award for outstanding contribution to the greening of Toronto.

Contact person: Wesley Normington

Address: 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 407, Toronto, ON, M5V 3A8

Office: 416.977.5093

Mobile: 416.993.7460

wesley@trec.on.ca

www.treceducation.ca

In our on-going effort to share experiences, build capacity and foster dialogue about the community power model, TREC is working on a series of free resources that will support our growing sector for increasing project success around the province and beyond.  While a number of tools and products are already available through our TREC Services team, we are working hard on refinement and enhancement as well as adding new items to the series. Watch this space for monthly updates.

In anticipation of the FIT 2.0 announcement, we decided to focus our attention on partnerships this month. Please see the next news entry for a link to this month’s feature tool: Community-Commercial Partnership. 

Considerations for Community-Commercial Partnership

We believe the only way we will have wide-spread renewables success in this province is through partnership.  TREC’s accomplishments have largely been realized through the support of our partners.  Whether a joint venture partnership with Toronto Hydro on our WindShare turbine at Exhibition Place, to supplier partners AGT and UniSolar on our SolarShare installations, or the many relationships that have seen our education programs blossom to reach 20-30,000 people every year, we rely on mutually beneficial relationships.

But not all partnerships are created equal and its important to consider what the parties need and want, and can offer each other.  We explore what a good partnership looks like in this month’s Community Power Toolkit Series. Please follow this link: http://www.trec.on.ca/services-resources/toolkit

For other tools and services please visit: http://www.trec.on.ca/services-resources

TREC is once again hosting our "Project Finance and Capital Markets" Tutorial- a series for women in the social finance and renewable energy sector to build capacity around project finance and deal negotiation. 

Our first tutorial this fall was a quick sell-out and as a result of the success and positive feedback, we have decided to do it again, this time focusing on the broader Renewable Energy sector without the emphasis on non-profits.  This series will once again be facilitated by Jens Lohmueller and include a hands-on component so that attendees can practically apply the concepts learned.

If you attended the first tutorial, you are more than welcome to join us again and we are inviting new registrants to joins us as well.

Four sessions are envisioned initially, however, participants are encouraged to bring their interests forward and participate in setting the agenda and triggering discussion. 

Please see the attached flyer for full details. In our inaugural round we have space for 12 participants.  We feel a small intimate group is more conducive to everyone getting out of the sessions what they need.  

Please get in touch to find out more and to register. melissa@trec.on.ca

Financial Literacy Tutorial Info