Green Energy Field Day Rewind

From crowds in front of Queens Park to quiet discussion of the value of solar panels at Canclone's, the solar powered printers, Ontarians showed their commitment to green energy last Saturday, 24th September at OSEA's Green Energy Field Day – a province-wide doors open event.

David Miller kicked off the day at the Queen’s Park event, giving a rousing speech driving home the message that sustainable energy and conservation saves money and creates jobs where we need them – here and now.

Events included visiting an earth sheltered house near Tamworth with two solar installations that have produced enough electricity to power 360 houses and saved the carbon equivalent of burning 192 trees – since June. In Hamilton, EcoHouse showed 75 people their new solar photovoltaic system as well as the many other energy saving improvements they have made to the 160 year old building. A pre-Confederation stone farmhouse, once known as Glen Manor, EcoHouse serves to demonstrate environmental technologies from the past, present and future. It shows that it is possible to live in a sustainable manner, in harmony with our environment.

In total OSEA supported groups holding 30 events more than 20 communities across the province.

The date September 24 was specially picked to align with 350.org’s global initiative Moving Planet – a day to move beyond fossil fuels. To see some of the amazing pictures from events from across the world visit:
http://www.moving-planet.org

Kitchener-based community group win solar PV system in WattsNEXT? video contest

Other winners from Little Current and Toronto
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 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 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.

CanBio Annual National Conference and Trade Show

BIOENERGY - DRIVER OF SOCIOECONOMIC GROWTH

October 12-13, 2011
Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto, ON

Economical, dispatchable and sustainable, bioenergy is on the upswing. People are realizing that bioenergy, more than any other renewable energy, can fuel economic growth in beleaguered regions across the country while providing renewable and dependable heat and power for homes and businesses, and fuel for transportation. At the CanBio National Conference and Trade Show, we will take the next step to rolling out bioenergy across the country. What will we feature? We will:

• Show the contribution to the Canadian economy of bioenergy, especially at the local level,
• Explain the complexities of bioenergy projects, and how to solve them,
• Hold our first ever Dragon’s Den, connecting investors from Canada and Europe with project proponents,
• Showcase development of Exciting New Technologies including torrefied wood,
• Expose obstacles and opportunities created by today’s policies,
• Show how biomass imports will boom in Europe and Korea,
• Offer a ½ day District Energy Course, courtesy of the Canadian District Energy Association,
• and much more; download the conference agenda

For more information, click here or contact Noam Sugarman at 705-472-2280 or info@canbio.ca

The Green Connection 2011 - Fall's premiere green networking party

Enjoy mouth watering canapés and hors d'oeuvres and unlimited tastings of an intriguing variety of exclusively Ontario beer, wine, meade, cider, port, juices and smoothies with some of the Province’s most interesting entrepreneurs, sustainability advocates and personalities in the green space.

All this brought to you by celebrity chefs such as Brad Long and Michael Steh, Ontario’s first biodynamic vineyard Southbrook and of course Steam Whistle beers. Top that with award winning and beautifully crafted Ninutik Maple Sugar creations, Chocosol's unforgettable drinking chocolate created with indigenous cacao growers from Mexico Profundo, There will be entertainment and a raffle with some amazing prizes.

Spectacular décor using some of the finest kites from Toronto’s largest kite festival, WindFest.

Tickets: $75.00 (early bird) $95.00 (regular)
Where: The historic Roundhouse, home of Steam Whistle Brewery (behind CN Tower)
When: Monday November 14th 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Buy tickets: www.thegreenconnection.ca
Presented by: Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA)

Green Home TV - An Overview of Sustainable and Solar Energy in Ontario

At our Green Energy Field Day event at Queens Park this past Saturday, Thom Mills of Green Home TV caught up with OSEA executive director Kris Stevens for a discussion about sustainable and solar energy in Ontario.

Kris brings us up to speed on the burgeoning industry, and helps to make sense of the spin and misconceptions around the Green Energy Act and Feed-in Tariff that we are hearing as we head towards the October 6th provincial election. Touching on the cost of electricity, your electricity bill, community projects and investment among other things, the interview is very informative and well worth watching.

View: Green Home TV - An Overview of Sustainable and Solar Energy in Ontario

OSEA Report on Hydro One Regulatory Proceeding

OSEA presses for Hydro One to focus on getting microFIT contracts connected

OSEA took part in the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) hearing regarding Hydro One honouring microFIT project grid connections. This issue also bears importance for community and commercial projects whether Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) or microFIT in nature.

In April 2011, Hydro One applied to the OEB for a six month exemption from the required timelines to connect microFIT projects to Hydro One’s distribution system. Hydro One stated the volume of connection requests has been well beyond its expectations and that it expected the volume of connection requests to continue to increase.

OSEA's recommendations were that firstly, granting the exemption is not in the public interest, and secondly that the OEB has a real opportunity with this application to request that Hydro One come back with a plan that not only addresses compliance with regulatory standards that expidite the connection process but also that addresses how connection refusals are going to be dealt with. In short, a revision of the processes that give microFIT projects timely access to the grid.

Read the evidence and commentary of the submission for full details in the Policy & Regulatory Work section of the OSEA website:
 OSEA Report on Hydro One Regulatory Proceeding EB-2011‐01181

Video Contest

Annoucing our
Grand Prize Winners

AS Solar 10 kW Community Solar PV System:
Ken Ogasawara (Kitchener), Mennonite Central Committee Ontario

$2000 Green Energy Bursary:
Colin Jeffery (Little Current), Escarpement Biosphere Conservancy

$2000 Green Energy Bursary:
Stephen Bowes (Toronto), Matthew House Refugee Reception Services

Watch all the videos:
wattsnext.ca/video

Nomination deadline is October 16th, 2011 so suggest someone today!

Upcoming Events

OSEA FIT Webinar Series: Industrialization, Economic Growth and Job Creation

When: Tuesday, October 04, 2011,
10:00am - 11:30am

More info >>

OSEA/CanSIA presents Solar Drinks October

When: Wednesday October 12, 2011, Toronto,
5:30 - 9:30 pm

More info >>

CanBio Annual National Conference and TradeShow

When: October 12-13, 2011, Toronto

More info >>

OSEA FIT Webinar Series: Renewable Energy Approvals 101 for Developers - How to Prepare Your Application and Eliminate Potential Rework

When: Thursday, October 13, 2011, 10:00 - 11:30 am

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OSEA's Community Power Roadmap to Success Workshop Series

When: Throughout Ontario, October 19, 20, 26, 27, Nov 1, 8, 9 and more t.b.a.

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APAO Biogas Co-op Workshop

When: Thursday, October 20, 2011, Woodstock, ON, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

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IESO Centralized Forecasting Webinar

When: Thursday, October 20th, 2011, 2:00pm

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The Green Connection 2011

When: Monday, November 14, 2011, Toronto, 6:30 - 10:00 pm

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3rd Annual Community Power Conference 2011

When: November 14-15, 2011, Toronto

More info >>