Throughout the ongoing FIT Review, TREC continues to address Community Power barriers, and more specifically, challenges to our LakeWind development.  

Download the file below to see TREC's most recent submission to the Ministry of Energy RE: Proposed solution for moving forward stalled community wind project, LakeWind      

LW_Deputy Minister

Two of TREC’s projects, Our Power and SolarShare have made it to the 2^nd round of the ClimateSpark Challenge!

The ClimateSpark Social Venture Challenge is putting $500,000 in funding on the line for “cool” Toronto ventures that can help our climate and our city.

This is a call for all supporters of TREC to visit ClimateSpark and rate the Our Power and SolarShare proposals. Round two ends next Friday, November 11th and we need to get ratings in as soon as possible.

Round 2 is a two-week lightning round with two major parts:

• A fresh round of commenting and rating of the top 20 proposals
• Investing of points in "shares" of the proposals by reviewers like you through our Spark Market, starting next Monday. The Spark Market is your chance to earn a lot more points through savvy investment decisions. We'll tell you more later this week.

Of course, the more points you have, the better your odds of winning our weekly prizes. It's time to get active again!

All you have to do is visit http://www.climatespark.ca/ , create an account, search for Our Power and SolarShare and go from there! We've seen what only a few ratings can do, so if more supporters put in the effort we can reach the top proposal standings!

Our Power and SolarShare are great initiatives and we need your help to spread the word!

Thanks to legislative changes in the past few years, Ontario has made outstanding progress in clean energy and sustainable development- keys to a healthy environmental and economic future for the province.

As we await upcoming provincial elections, TREC encourages all voters to become familiar with the different party platforms, especially their policies on renewable energy. Below is a link to a comparative breakdown of where each party stands on a range of environmental policies. Please have a look so that you can make the most informed decision at the ballots on October 6th!

http://www.greenprosperity.ca/platforms/

You’re an earth-friendly person and want to go solar, but a large tree shades your house; or you’re a renter; or you don’t have $20,000 to drop on a solar power system.  Or maybe you just want to get more than 0.5% interest on your savings account while getting a piece of the clean energy economy.

If you live in the U.S., you’re probably out of options.  Not so in Canada.

Thanks to innovative energy policy, residents of Ontario can invest in local solar power projects by buying SolarShare bonds. Read the full article >>

Save the Toronto Environment Office and Urban Agriculture Program!

Demand that the City’s Environmental Services and Programs are Not Reduced, Compromised, or Eliminated!

WHAT?

Toronto citizens are asked to contact their Councillors and urge them to act!

We need 23 Councillors to vote against any plans to cut environmental services.

WHEN?

Between today and September 26^th.

HOW?

It's easy!

Call your local Councillor directly, click here to find out who your local representative is.

and/or

Sign the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) online petition.

WHY? 

A recently published Toronto Service Review, conducted by KPMG and funded by the city of Toronto, proposed cutting the Toronto Environment Office and Urban Agriculture Program (among other services) in order to reduce the city’s projected deficit.  

As a result of the report release, deputations were held at city hall on July 21st, where 110 citizens presented to the Parks and Environment Committee in defence of the city’s environmental services.  On September 19^th the Mayor’s Executive Committee will review the plan, which will then go to City Council on September 26^th for a final vote.

As our next step to protecting these vital services, we are reaching out to the community to contact Councillors and urge them to vote against the proposed cuts. Let your representatives know the importance of these services in promoting Toronto’s vitality as a successful city; to eliminate them is not only extremely short-sighted but also a giant misstep towards achieving any type of environmental sustainability in our city.

Add your voice to the call for a clean, green, and vibrant future in Toronto. 

“The only thing needed for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

-- Edmund Burke

For more information, contact the TEA office ore visit www.torontoenvironment.org.

**Please forward widely.**

From The Toronto Star:

Ontario electricity prices are heading higher with or without controversial renewable energy contracts, says a study by the green-leaning Pembina Institute.

The study, released Wednesday, says the relatively high prices paid to wind, solar and biogas power producers under Ontario’s feed-in tariff program, or FIT, are being blamed unfairly for rising power prices.

Even if no more FIT contracts are signed, the study says, the outlook for rising prices doesn’t change much — because the alternatives are no cheaper.

Read the entire article here

TREC is looking for a software developer to submit a proposal for the development of a member and investment management software platform for renewable energy co-ops. This platform should be able to handle member management, securities transactions, yield payouts and basic accounting/book-keeping services as outlined in the attached RFP.

This RFP closes July 8th at noon with presentations the week of July 12th.

TREC Call for Proposals for Co-op Management Platform

Canada’s wind energy industry took another step forward in 2010 with the addition of 690 MW of installed wind energy capacity. Our current installed capacity is 4,588 MW –enough to power over 1.2 million homes with clean, emissions-free energy – is comprised of 2,570 wind turbines operating at 131 wind farms. Wind energy has increased almost ten-fold in the last six years in Canada as governments seek ways to meet rising energy demand, reduce environmental impacts of electricity generation, and stimulate rural and industrial economic development.

The vast majority of Canadians support wind energy for its environmental and social benefits. Now there is a place where supporters can share their stories or learn more about wind: log on to the Friends of Wind website today.

The site gives interested individuals the chance to “join the conversation” about our energy future. It offers a variety of tools friends of wind can use to show their support for wind energy – helping to give the often-silent majority a strong voice.

By logging on you can:

-  Tell your MPP/MLA that clean and renewable energy is important to you! Show your support for wind energy by submitting a letter to your provincial representative. It only takes a few seconds to make a difference.  Click here to get started.

-  Submit your own story! Help populate the Friends of Wind blog by sharing your stories about how wind energy positively impacts you and your community. If you are curious about wind energy, this is a great place to start a conversation. Take a look at what wind energy supporters are already saying and join the conversation.

The Friends of Wind website can be viewed at the following link www.friendsofwind.ca.