Coop set up to promote renewable energy projects, and deliver profits for investors.

Jeff Green | Apr 04, 2013

A group that is in part an offshoot from the now defunct Frontenac County Green Energy Task Force, as well as people who have gathered in recent years for retreats at Wintergreen Studios, is stepping out of the world of wistful talk about a green energy future and into the world of investing in regional energy projects.

David Hahn, maple syrup and garlic producer, former South Frontenac councilor and one-time chair of the Green Energy Task Force, is now the President of the Wintergreen Renewable Energy Co-operative, a for-profit corporation that is seeking members and investors. Wintergreen has already entered into its first partnership, with Horizon Incorporated, a company that is on the verge of beginning construction on the Ernestown Wind Farm in Loyalist Township (Lennox and Addington).

“Wind is important to moving Canada toward a renewable-energy-based economy,” Hahn explained. “But communities have protested that wind farms are being forced upon them. That perspective changes when communities are given the opportunity to participate from the ground up. Then wind farms become attractive to the community.”

Horizon is opening up its project to local investors, and Wintergreen is seeking enough investors to buy into the project in a sizeable way. The investment will be safe because Horizon already has a contract to sell the power that it generates at the wind farm at an advantageous price.

“Horizon worked hard to make our agreement work,” said Wolfe Erlichman, a retired city planner and entrepreneur who is now Wintergreen’s secretary-treasurer.

“For community power to take off, co-operatives like Wintergreen are going to have to build capital capacity. Wintergreen’s investment in Ernestown will allow them to pay a good return to their investors and build that capacity at the same time,” said Horizon CEO Anthony Zwig.

Wintergreen is now actively seeking small investors who like the idea of a community owning the power it uses.

“Many rural folks have enjoyed the benefits of developing their own Micro FIT solar projects. A co-op like Wintergreen gives more people another opportunity to be involved in generating the electricity for their own community and to see long-term financial benefits.”

For David Hahn, this first project for Wintergreen could open the door to a wide range of community-based projects that can alter the way energy is produced and consumed in rural Ontario.

“There are many innovative projects in development. What we are setting up is a structure and a pool of money that can help our own communities take control of our energy future,” said Hahn.

For more information about Wintergreen Renewable Energy, go to Wintergreencoop.com and for more information on the Ernestown Wind Park, go to Ernestownwind.com.