The Wintergreen Initiative

John Jackson | Jul 07, 2011

Photo: David Hahn, GETF Chair, introduces Steve Lapp (St. Lawrence College), Mike Brigham (TREC Renewable Energy Coop) and Paul McKay (True Grid Power)

The Wintergreen Initiative – A Community Energy Group was launched on June 25 mid-way through a weekend retreat dedicated to community renewable energy. Five community working groups were set in place to address various issues concerning renewable energy: to explore municipal energy efficiency & conservation; to explore projects potentially qualifying for the Community Energy Partnership/Feed-in-Tariff program and those qualified for other support; to take into account off-grid enterprises; and communications. There was also a Steering Committee established to provide coordination of ongoing community working group activities and liaise with Frontenac County’s Green Energy Task Force and other partners.

What struck this writer was that the people assembled were not dewy-eyed, dissenting ideologues but very practical folk, highly committed to renewable energy and conservation, and thoroughly involved in the political, economic and social life of Frontenac County and Eastern Ontario. The relationship between commerce, employment and renewable energy & conservation was plainly evident. Jobs and more jobs are directly tied to renewable energy and conservation. This was clearly demonstrated by Mike Brigham of TREC Renewable Energy of Toronto, Paul McKay of True Grid Power and Steve Lapp & Ian Kilborn of St. Lawrence College, both involved in the college’s Energy Systems & Engineering Technology program. Here is a unique program designed to prepare students for employment in the rapidly growing field of renewable energy.

The event was held at Wintergreen Studios on Canoe Lake Road, South Frontenac. Wintergreen Studios, an off-grid straw bale building, was most certainly an appropriate venue for the gathering. The retreat was organized by the Community Energy Network of Eastern Ontario in partnership with Frontenac County’s Green Energy Task Force (GETF). Financial support was provided by the Ontario Trillium Fund and Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation.

Liz Savill, CAO for Frontenac County welcomed the delegates at the opening session. Representatives from business, community groups, educational institutions, and farm organizations attended.

The GETF emerged from and is guided by the Energy Mission Statement in the County’s “Directions for Our Future” document. The statement declares that “The County of Frontenac is a leader among rural communities in the development, conservation, generation and efficient use of clean, renewable energy that fulfills the community’s energy needs.” The Wintergreen Initiative was created to further these objectives. Workshop participants explored the local potential for the development of solar energy, wind power, micro-hydro, and biomass/biofuel sources of energy.

On the opening day, keynote speaker Mike Brigham reviewed his experience with TREC and SolarShare Toronto, two related renewable energy cooperatives, the former being the first in Ontario. This presentation was followed by case studies on developing projects in Ottawa (Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op), Perth (EcoPerth), Tamworth (Tamworth Biomass Project), Kingston (SWITCH Kingston), and the Quinte Hydro Project. On Saturday John Kittle, GETF deputy-Chair reviewed the task force’s objectives and strategy, based on an extremely successful approach used by Whistler, British Columbia over the past few years to stimulate hands-on community and private sector involvement in municipal economic development. A recurring theme among the speakers was the importance of Ontario’s green Energy and Green Economy Act and the Feed-in-Tariff promoting and stimulating renewable energy generating facilities in rural areas.

The Wintergreen Initiative’s community working groups will submit reports related to their mandates by mid-July. Based on these reports, The Initiative will work in cooperation with the Frontenac GETF to explore and provide information to the citizens of Frontenac County on the various programs available to assist in the development of renewable energy and conservation. For more information on the conference and renewable energy visit www.community-energy.ca or contact the Community Energy Network of Eastern Ontario at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Other web-sites to explore: www.ecologyottawa.ca ; www.OttawaRenewableEnergyCoop.ca; and www.wintergreenstudios.com .