Watts NEXT for the renewable energy industry?

Help protect the Green Energy Act
The Green energy file has become a major talking point as Ontario gears up for a fall election. Grassroots action is vital to ensure that all parties develop platforms that protect the job creation and investment thus far. But how do we stop preaching to the converted, and take up a logical dialogue with those who need it most?

Our WattsNEXT campaign includes an exciting competition with amazing prizes, including bursaries, a solar PV system, and internships with leading companies. Attached is additional detailed information describing the campaign, activities and specific results we expect.

Custom sponsorship packages are available and we are counting on your organization for financial support. Please also visit www.WattsNEXT.ca/map and sign up to show your support for your industry, the Green Energy Act and a green, clean and prosperous future for Ontario.

DOWNLOAD:  WattsNEXT? Sponsorship Opportunities (PDF)

A Practical Point of View On Sustainable Energy

Ralph and Jutta Splettstoesser are farmers. Swine flu meant that they lost money raising pigs and had to find additional ways of earning their family's living. They learnt their land could harvest the sun twice: for food in fields; for electricity on roofs. Now they plan to harvest the wind while still farming the land underneath. Sun and wind will supply energy for their community, while adding to their income and so supporting their local suppliers, e.g. of farm equipment.
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Photographic exhibition focuses on energy

A major exhibition is being produced that has photographers zooming in on energy with a focus on renewables. Produced by Photosensitive, a not-for-profit collective of professional photographers, in partnership with OSEA, the exhibition will include black and white shots taken by 100 of Canada's best photographers. The aim is to raise awareness of renewable energy initiatives in wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biofuels and hydro power as well as highlighting other related issues such as energy consumption and conservation.
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Tides Canada Seeks Endorsements on "A New Energy Vision for Canada”

Imagine a future where Canadians overwhelmingly meets their energy needs from wind, water, sun, and the heat of the earth. Where the average home is a net producer of power. Where virtually all passenger cars run on electricity generated from renewable sources, and where clean, efficient, and reliable public transportation systems such as streetcars connect efficient, compact, and highly livable neighbourhoods with schools, shops, and services.

Our friends at Tides Canada can imagine this future, and they outline it exceptionally well in an exciting new discussion paper called A New Energy Vision for Canada. It’s a vision that particularly excites us at OSEA because it’s what we work toward every day. That’s one of the reasons why we formally endorsed the paper, and why we encourage you to do the same.

In the coming weeks, our Tides Canada friends will have an amazing opportunity to share this vision with Minister Duguid, along with his peers in other energy ministries across the country. We agree that the meeting could prove a watershed moment for those working to advance sustainable energy in Canada; it could potentially help set Canada on a path to a prosperous, low-carbon future, free of pollution and the nightmares of oil spills and climate change.

In advance of this key meeting, the foundation is seeking endorsements for the New Energy Vision from companies, organizations, and institutions working to advance a prosperous low-carbon Canada. OSEA is proud to have signed on, and we invite you to join us. Check out the paper at the link above, and to add your company or organization’s name to the growing list, or find out more, please contact Merran Smith, the director of Tides Canada Energy Initiative, via merran.smith@tidescanada.org.

WindFest 2011: Great sponsorship opportunity

Help support Toronto's largest public celebration of green energy! WindFest is Toronto's annual kite festival, on Woodbine Beach. This family-friendly event cleverly uses kites as a symbolic way to highlight the power of wind energy People of all ages come to fly kites, watch professional fliers in action or take part in kite-making and other children's activities. Once on the beach, they are also exposed to information booths about Community Power, and can participate in TREC's "Kids' World of Energy" programming. Just three weeks before the provincial election, WindFest is a great opportunity to promote green energy with a positive, media-savvy, family event. Sponsoring WindFest is a great way to support green energy and to illustrate your commitment to community power. Last year's sponsors included Toronto Hydro, Vestas, MEC, CanWEA and CAPE. Sponsorship packages are flexible and affordable!

DOWNLOAD:  Windfest 2011 Sponsorship Details (PDF)

Upcoming Events

102nd IDEA / 16th CDEA Annual Conference & Trade Show

When: June 26-29, 2011

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Harvesting Clean Energy on Ontario Farms Speaking Tour

When: June 27 - 30, 2011
The Climate Action Network Canada, Pembina Institute, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, and The United Church of Canada, will be launching of a new report “Harvesting Clean Energy on Ontario Farms” to be featured on a Southern Ontario speaking tour from June 27-30, 2011. They will be in Guelph and Cambridge on June 29 & 30.

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CanSIA and OSEA June Ottawa Solar Drinks

When: Tuesday, June 28, 2011, Ottawa, ON

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OSEA Member Update

When: Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Members will be sent an access code for the call soon.

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OSEA FIT Webinar Series: Discussing the Future of FIT - Focus on Windpower

Save the date!
When: Thursday, July 14

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Nova Scotia Feed-in Tariff Forum

When: September 21 - 22, 2011

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