Saturday November 14th

OSEA Members

Pre-Conference Side Events

8:30-9:00

Strategic Planning Registration and Morning Breakfast (board members & candidates only)
Renaissance Hotel, One Blue Jays Way

9:00-1:00

Strategic Planning (board members & candidates only) Blue Jays Room

9:00-11:00 – Community Power 101 Maple Leaf Room
with Paul Gipe, Wind Energy Expert

12:30-1:00

OSEA AGM Registration

1:00-2:00

OSEA Members Lunch (members only)

2:00-5:00

OSEA Annual General Meeting (members only) Raptor Room

5:00-7:00

Renewable Energy Tours,Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative

7:00-10:00

Community Power Launch Celebration
(CPLaunch) [Duke of Westminster - Adelaide entrance]

Sunday November 15th – Day 1

7:00-8:30

Registration Open and Daybreak Morning Breakfast – Prefunction Space

8:30-9:00

Welcome and Opening Ceremonies Rm 801AB

Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director, Ontario Sustainable Energy Association & Gary Sault, Mississauga of New Credit First Nations

9:00-10:30

The New Economic Opportunity for all Ontarians – Community Power
Rm 801AB

Generating Power in Ontario is everybody’s business now. With the passage of the Green Energy and Economy Act and the launch of its associated world-class Feed-in Tariff Program, the stage was set on October 1st of this year for all Ontarians to profit from getting involved in a local renewable energy project, either on their own, or with others. This plenary, designed to help you get the most from the conference, will define Community Power and outline the new socioeconomic and environmental benefits. There are three distinct types of projects a community can engage in, and these will be touched on along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Finally we will build on the understanding of the current potential for Community Power given the current economic and political landscape, why you need to move quickly now, where the low hanging fruit is, what you should stay away from, and what’s still needed for Community Power to play a significant role within Ontario’s overall energy sector.

Keynote: Jim Harris
Expert Panel: Henning Holst, President, Ingenieurburo Holst, Stefan Gsaenger, Secretary General, World Wind Energy Association, Kathleen Padulo, CEO, Generation Seven Consulting,
Paul Gipe, Wind Energy Expert, Deborah Doncaster, Executive Director, Community Power Fund

Aboriginal Forum Open Room 803A

The Aboriginal Forum is a gathering place designed for First Nations and Métis delegates and those interested in related issues, to engaged in further in-depth discussions on the opportunities, barriers and current work surrounding Aboriginal Community Power.

The forum is an intimate setting with the focus of answering the questions needed to support successful Aboriginal Community Power developments. It is a gathering place for delegates wanting to discuss Aboriginal topics, arrange meetings with experts, and access materials that should reinforce the main conference content.

If you have an idea for a discussion in this room OSEA and Generation Seven staff will coordinate suggestions of topics such as

Community Energy Planning and provincial planning and funding agencies. There will be no shortage of topics after sessions so the discussion will continue in the Aboriginal Forum, open throuhout the conference.

10:30-11:00

Break Prefunction Space

11:00-12:15

Community Energy Planning: How Community Power FITs Rm 801AB

Community Energy Plans (CEPs) are now a top priority for political community leaders. The objective of CEPs is to increase the efficient use of electricity, generate power locally, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions, all while encouraging economic growth and development. Some existing and planned financial assistance and grant programs available to municipalities require CEPs to be in place. This plenary will feature a panel of experts who will provide you with a clear understanding of the CEP process, where Community Power contributes, and how to help expedite and finance your project by helping to achieve existing CEP goals, and understand how to interact with your municipality to involve it in your project in an effective and meaningful way.

Chair: Kenneth Ogilvie, Director Emeritus, Pollution Probe

Expert Panel: Simon Geraghty, Engineering Researcher, Urban Solutions, Greg Allan, Sustainable Strategist, HOK, Miguel Mendonça, Research Manager, World Future Council

Consultation and Accommodation Room 803A

Walpole Island First Nation – a First Nation highly regarded for its leadership in environmental stewardship – has passed its own Consultation and Accommodation Protocol to improve the chances that cultural, social and environmental respect, and certainty, will be built into all decisions made and actions taken by both governments and proponents, in its traditional territory. With this leadership as a guide, and past experiences to build on, this discussion will surround consultation and accommodation with regards to Aboriginal land and renewable energy projects.

Dr. Dean M. Jacobs, Director, Walpole Island Heritage Centre, Lee White (invited), Walpole Island First Nation

12:15-1:30 

Lunch Hall F

FIT Rm 801AB

MicroFIT Rm 803B

Aboriginal Forum Open Room 803A

1:30-3:00

Stages of Development for a FIT Community Power Project

Understanding the successful development template and go/no-go decision points within a community based renewable energy project greater that 10 kilowatts is crucial to profitable well managed projects. This workshop will feature panelists with field experience in developing renewable energy projects and outline the key stages of a Community Power project. Some stages will be delved into at this workshop, with others being covered at other sessions during the conference. You will be directed appropriately.

Co-Chairs: Jim Fonger, Windy Hills Caledon
& Michael Fox, Fox High Impact Consulting

Expert Panel: Brian Iler, Iler-Cambpell LLP,
Patrick Côté, Renewable Energy Consultant,

Don McKinnon, Senior EA Planner, Dillon Consulting, Glen Estill, President, Sky Generation
Graham Findlay, 3G Energy Corp

Stages of Development for a Micro-FIT Community Power Project

Projects 10 kilowatts and under, while less complex than larger projects, still have appropriate development procedures that expedite development and lower risk. This workshop, led by one of the Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative’s (TREC) experts, will outline the appropriate ways to approach a Micro-FIT community based project. Deployment of a 10 kilowatt solar project will be in the range of $100,000; don’t let the title of “micro” fool you!

Ken Traynor, Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative

Case Study:
Paul Charbonneau, Energy Advocate

3:00-3:30

Break Prefunction Space

3:30-5:00

The First Hurdle:
Getting your FIT contract

Getting your 20 year, FIT contract from the OPA is the first major economic milestone that you will achieve in your project to ratchet down the risks on further investments in your project. This workshop, moderated by a well known power industry executive, will feature panelists from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and a variety of Local Distribution Companies (LDCs) and will outline the steps you must take in order to get your FIT contract signed quickly and efficiently. Understanding the different roles that the OPA and your LDC play within the contract process will be crucial to success.

Chair: Paul Gipe, Wind Energy Expert

Expert Panel: Jonathan Cheszes, Ontario Power Authority, Ayesha Sabouba, Manager Generation Connections, Hydro One, Ray Tracy, CEO, Essex Power Lines, Jim Fonger, Windy Hills Caledon, David Timm, VP Strategic Affairs,
AIM Powergen

The First Hurdle:
Getting your Micro-FIT contract

Getting your 20 year, Micro-FIT contract from the OPA is the biggest step in proceeding with your Micro-FIT project. This workshop, will outline the steps you must take in order to get your Micro-FIT contract signed quickly and efficiently. Your LDC, the OPA, and your municipality, all play important roles in the Micro-FIT contract process and it will be important for you to understand how to work with them efficiently.

Chair: Jon Worren, Founder, ClearSkyAnalyst

Expert Panel: Christopher Quirke, Team Lead, Renewable Energy Facilitation Office, Pietra Velinor, Conservation Co-ordinator, Orangeville Hydro,
Sarah Simmons, Analyst – Electricity Resources, Ontario Power Authority,
Rob McMonagle, Senior Energy Consultant, Energy Efficiency Office, City of Toronto, Paul Leikermoser, Conergy Sales & Systems, Americas

Community Power Models Rm 802AB

“Stages of development of a FIT Community Power Project” covers the formation of a community power group. This session will go more in-depth into structural options for groups that are already at this stage. Case studies will be presented, and particular consideration will be made to the appropriateness of each model to various stakeholders, and what financing options there may be for each, referring to the finance sessions to follow on Day 2.

Chair: Jen Henneberry, Ontario Co-operative Association

Expert Panel: Jeff Harti, Windfall Ecology Centre,
Brian Iler, Iler-Cambpell LLP,
Mike Brigham, Solarshare,
Joseph Pesch, FESA

Patrick Côté, Renewable Energy Consultant

6:00-9:00

Community Power Banquet and Awards Ceremony Hall F

Keynote: David Pearson, Co-Director, Science Communication Program, Laurentian University

Monday November 16th – Day 2

8:00-8:30

Registration Open and Daybreak Morning Breakfast Prefunction Space

8:30-9:00

Welcome and Opening Rm 801AB

Keynote: George Smitherman, MPP

9:00-10:30

Community Power Enablers – The people you need to know Rm 801AB

Throughout Sunday’s program, you learned about the economic and policy drivers that fuel the Community Power sector, and learned about some of the steps you will need to take to get your project started. Monday will complete the picture starting with this plenary of key enablers of the sector. This plenary will help you understand their roles and how to work with them with confidence to commission and operate your Community Power project.

Chair: Don McCabe, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Expert Plenary Panel: Colin Andersen, CEO, Ontario Power Authority, John Loucks, Chair, Electricity Distributors Association, Mirrun Zaveri, Deputy Director, Renewable Energy Facilitation Office, Joyce McLean, Director, Strategic Issues,Toronto Hydro

Aboriginal Forum Open Room 803A

10:30-11:00

Break in the Power Networking Centre

11:00-12:15

Power Works: demystifying how Ontario’s power system works…
and is going to work Rm 801AB

Ontario’s electricity system has evolved significantly, from a time when Ontario was 100% renewable, to a time not too long ago that featured centralized generation systems served by large scale hydro, nuclear, coal, gas, and oil systems. But the system has started to undergo a major change for a number of reasons. When you return to your communities to start to build your Community Power projects you will need to be able to speak comfortably and accurately about Ontario’s electricity system to others. In this plenary you will learn how the electricity system will work as intermittent renewables make up a larger percentage of system resources, the real cost of electricity, and the real cost of new generation that needs to be installed.

Chair: Jose Etcheverry, Assistant Professor, York University

Expert Panel: Peter Fraser, Senior Manager – Infrastructure & Renewal, Ontario Energy Board, Terry Young, Vice-President Corporate Relations, Independent Electricity System Operators, Nicole Foss, Executive Co-ordinator, AgriEnergy Producers, Bob Chow, Director, Transmission Integration, Ontario Power Authority

Procurement for Aboriginal Communities Room 803A

Ziyaad Mia, Counsel - Legal, Aboriginal & Regulatory Affairs, Ontario Power Authority

12:15-1:30

Lunch in the Power Networking Centre

Financing Rm 801AB

Partnerships and the Future Rm 803B

Aboriginal Forum Rm 803A

1:30-3:00

Financing the start-up of your community based project

Getting your community based project off the ground is the highest risk part of the project. Building on the corporate structure models discussed in the stages of development sessions from Day 1, this session will cover current and future planned resources that you can access for funding to get your project to the stage where you can apply for a FIT or Micro-FIT contract and some of the stages required so that the OPA will give you the green light to build your project.

Chair: Deborah Doncaster, Executive Director, Community Power Fund

Expert Panel: Mary-Jo Sullivan & Andre Vallillee,
The Ontario Trillium Foundation, Meghan MacLennan, Program Manager, Community Power Fund,
Jen Henneberry, Ontario Co-operative Association, Tim Stoate, Toronto Atmospheric Fund,
Mike Brigham, Solarshare, John Kim Bell, Senior Advisor – Aboriginal Matters, Brookfield Power

Partnerships:
Community Power projects at their best

Equitable partnerships with local equity stake is central to Community Power. The FIT program recognizes this through its design of the Community Power premium. In this workshop, which builds on the corporate structure models discussed in the stages of development sessions from Day 1, potential partnerships will be outlined, discussed and evaluated by a panel of experts already involved in projects with multiple partners.

Chair: Peter Love, President, Love Energy Consultants

Expert Panel: William Big Bull, President and Chief Executive Officer, Big Bull’s Energy Consulting, Piikuni Nation, AB, Randy Sa’d, Strategic Partnership, Harbourfront Centre, Joseph Pesch, FESA,
Justin Rangooni, Ontario Policy Manager, CanWEA, Ted Cowan, Ontario Federation of Agriculture,
Judith Lipp, Executive Director, Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative

Accessing renewables in Ontario’s north

Ontario’s north is unlike the rest of the province with regards to the energy sector, and is of particular importance to many First Nations communities.
This session will bring forward challenges and opportunities with regards to accessing renewables
in Northern Ontario.

Chair: Russ Christianson, President,
Rhythm Communications

Expert Panel: Michael Fox, Fox High Impact Consulting, Jan Buijk, DDACE Power Systems,
Paul Norris, President, Ontario Waterpower Association, Marion Fraser, Fraser and Associates, Ambrose Raftis, Green Timiskaming Development Co-Operative Inc.

3:00-3:30   

Break in the Power Networking Centre

Financing Rm 801AB

Partnerships and the Future Rm 803B

Education and Training Rm 802AB

3:30-5:00

Financing the build-out and operation of your community based project

You have your FIT or Micro-FIT contract from the OPA. Now you need to raise the equity and debt required to build your project. Building on the corporate structure models discussed in the stages of development session from Day 1, this workshop will cover current and future planned resources you can access to capitalize and operate your project maximizing your equity interest and minimizing long-term interest rate risk.

Chair: Fidel Reijerse, President, RESCo Energy Inc

Expert Panel: Tom Rand, Practice Lead, Cleantech
& Physical Science Venture Group, MaRS,
Nestor Uhera, Toronto Energy Efficiency Office, Mark Salerno, Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program, Jim Mulheron, Managing Director,
RESCo Lease Corporation,
Michael Lewkowitz, Igniter

Fit for FIT

So far, the Green Energy Act and the resulting programs have adopted feed-tariffs for renewable energy projects that generate electricity. Renewable energy can also be used directly to offset heating and cooling requirements. Conservation was our number one priority, yet incentives for electricity conservation are still piecemeal. In addition, the Act appears to support district energy and combined heat and power, but what form should this support take? This session will focus on how a mechanism like feed-in tariffs could be used for these green energy sources, and explore what future renditions of Ontario’s FIT might look like.

Chair: Marion Fraser, Fraser and Associates

Expert Panel: Jason Chee-Aloy, Ontario Power Authority, David DeYoe, President, Bio-Trend Systems Inc., James Alden, Summerhill Group, Phil Whiting, EnerWorks, Gino di Rezzi, Groundheat, Scott Stevens, Northland Power, Jan Buijk, DDACE Power Systems, Bruce Ander, Markham District Energy, Gerald Van Decker, Renewability

Challenges and filling the gaps

Community Power depends on the availability of skilled workers with the know-how to get these projects in the ground and serviced. Discussion in this session will surround the need for top-level leadership in establishing training requirements, standards and accreditation, the shortage of qualified trainers to develop and deliver sustainable energy programs, and the potential for trade unions and trades apprenticeship programs to create new green jobs.

Chair: Robert Hellier, Manager, Centennial College Energy Institute

Expert Panel: Craig Hall, Aboriginal Human Resource Council, Wesley Johnston, Director of Policy & Research, CanSIA, David Nixon, Kortright Centre for Conservation, Melanie Paradis, Director of Lands Resources & Consultation, Metis Nation of Ontario, Andrew King, United Steelworkers Union

5:00-6:30

Closing Ceremonies Rm 801AB

Gary Lipinski, President, Métis Nation of Ontario

Doug Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Métis Nation of Ontario

Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director, Ontario Sustainable Energy Association

Power Networking Centre November 16th

Live Presentations in Power Networking Centre – Focusing on Renewable Energy Technologies

Location: OSEA Power Networking Stage

10:00-11:00

Focus on Wind

11:30-12:30

Focus on Solar

1:00-2:00

Focus on Biomass

2:30-3:30

Focus on Biogas and Landfill Gas

4:00-5:00

Focus on Small Hydro