ENERGY COOPS ROLE IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION: THE OREC STORY

Energy generation has long been centralised, but the landscape is changing. Meet the Ottawa Renewable Energy Cooperative (OREC) and find out how community funded renewable energy allows individuals to benefit directly from the energy transition and brings more democracy and transparency to electricity generation.

With a 14 year track record and a portfolio of 24 renewable energy and 3 energy efficiency projects (and growing), OREC strives to make locally funded renewable energy assets an important piece of our journey away from fossil fuels.

OREC raises capital through the sale of preference shares. This capital is pooled by the Co-operative to build new or acquire existing projects, bringing them under community ownership. Revenues from the sale of renewable energy or energy savings are returned to investors in the form of interest payments, dividends, and capital repayment.

Through its projects, OREC provides partners, such as businesses, school boards, municipalities and Crown Corporations with predictability of electricity prices, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and all at no upfront cost.

Join us whether you’re interested in a truly green investment from as little as $500, have partnership ideas, or want to find out how decentralised energy resources (DER) will transform our energy system for the better.

MARION SIEKIERSKI is the General Manager of the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative (OREC). With a M.A. in Political Science and a background in international development work and project management around the world, Marion is driven by a sense of urgency about the climate crisis. After working on environmental education and advocacy for more robust climate action, she is excited to promote OREC’s approach of community-funded renewable energy giving individuals an opportunity to invest in projects in their communities, earn a dividend and contribute to a swift and just energy transition.

GRAHAM FINDLAY with a background as a civil engineer, a commercial lender, a commercial real estate developer, has been active in Canada’s renewable energy industry for more than 20 years. Graham co-founded Vector Wind Energy Inc and launched wind energy projects in 9 Canadian provinces, constructed 3 wind projects in Nova Scotia and won competitive energy bids in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. After the sale of Vector Wind to a large energy company, Graham co-founded 3G Energy Corp, an energy project advisory company, in 2007. 3G Energy Corp has worked on wind and solar projects across Canada with a particular focus on assisting indigenous communities invest in renewable energy projects.

DICK BAKKER is a co-founder of OREC and has been actively involved in the Renewable Energy Industry since 2002 and is a vocal advocate of all renewable energy options. He has been operating a Micro-Fit solar system since June 2010 at his property in Manotick Station and recently installed a solar net-metering system at his home. Dick has 20 years of sales and management experience in the telecommunications industry with companies such as Telesat Canada, Cisco and several smaller firms. He also operated a family run event retail business and is now retired. Dick has a BA (Politics) and MBA from Queen’s University.