July 6, 2021 Recording – Community Owned Renewable Energy

Webinar Notice (Pdf)
July 6th, 2021 at 1:00pm EDT (GMT -0400)

Speakers:

• Aaron Thornell
• Dick Bakker

 Moderator:

• Rieky Stuart

Outline:

We don’t have to wait for government, private industry, or institutional investors to finance the transition to renewable energy and green technology. Citizens and local communities can act by pooling their money and facilitate the climate action we need.The Ottawa Renewable Energy Cooperative (OREC) is a proven local for-profit energy cooperative that has a track record of building new generation  assets, attracting growing membership while paying regular dividends. This webinar will discuss the experience of OREC as an alternative model to help us achieve Canada’s zero net carbon target.

 Speakers:

Dick Bakker One of the original founders of OREC in 2010,  three terms on the board, most recently as President. Founder of CoEnergy in 2018 (so that the OREC ‘Community Capital’ model could be extended to energy retrofit projects as the FIT program was ending.  Regulations required a new entity to address ‘ non-generation’ activities). For the last 17 years has operated an importation retail store in Manotick Station. For the first 25 year of his career, had working in various telecommunication and computer firms.

Aaron Thornell is the Customer & Member Manager of both OREC and CoEnergy Co-operative. In this role he is responsible for member & investor management, project development, and overall operations of both co-operatives. Born and raised in Ottawa, Aaron is passionate about the role that the co-operative model can play in addressing climate, social, and economic challenges and inequities. Aaron has a bachelor’s degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Community Development.

Moderator

Rieky Stuart is a part-time consultant on organizational change and gender equality with UN organizations, governments and NGOs. Her last staff position was as Executive Director of Oxfam Canada, and she also worked as Deputy Director of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation and taught at St. Francis Xavier University’s Coady Institute. She has been a volunteer teacher, consultant and Board member, and is currently affiliated with Gender at Work and with Climate Legacy.

Disclaimer

The Group of 78 and Climate Legacy do not in any way offer financial or investing advice.  This webinar and the information in the presentation are provided for educational purposes only. Investing involves risk. Any personal investing decisions should be made only after individual due diligence and/or with the assistance of a registered financial adviser or broker. The Group of 78 and Climate Legacy takes no responsibility for any investment decisions that participants may make.  By attending this webinar, you are signifying that you understand and agree to this disclaimer.

Please note that The Group of 78 and Climate Legacy provides information on issues, products and services of general interest to its membership.

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