OCEC Members Meet

Thursday, 17 April 2014 18:28

Helmut Schneider, President of the Community Energy Co-operative at Wednesday's Members and Investors Information Evening.

Oxford Community Energy Co-op held its first Members and Investors Information Evening Wednesday.

WOODSTOCK -- The Oxford Community Energy Co-op has submitted its Offering Statement for The Gunn's Hill Wind Farm Project to the Financial Service Commission of Ontario.

After canvassing for members, the co-operative held a Members and Investors Information Evening on Wednesday at the Best Western Plus location in Woodstock.

Helmut Schneider, President of the Community Energy Co-operative says they'll soon be looking to engage various groups, business associations, and service clubs to present the project and its investment opportunities.

"Our goal is to be the bridge between the community and the project developer. We really want to get the community to get involved in knowing what's going on in this area and being able to invest and benefit fro this area."

The Gunn's Hill Project is the first project which the Oxford Community Energy Co-op will develop. The eight-to-ten turbine wind farm projected for just south of Woodstock is expected to produce clean energy starting in 2015, and enough electricity to power more than 6,000 homes in Oxford County.

Schneider says while there's good interest in the The Gunn's Hill Wind Farm Project, the co-op is also aware of those who may be opposed to any wind turbine development in the area.

"We have not had direct contact with the coalition that has some opposition to it, and I completely understand that -- It's new in the community and people might not know what's coming here, what are we going to see, what does it do to us? I know some people think that it might impact their property value."

The Co-op is entering into a Limited Partnership with the project developer Prowind Canada Inc. and will own up to 49 per cent of the wind farm project.

As a developer, Prowind already has experience working with co-operatives like Oxford's who help operate renewable energy facilities in wind, solar and bio-gas all throughout Ontario.

The alternative energy proposal has already received a Feed-in Tariff contract from the Ontario Power Authority and its FIT program.

Schneider, did however describe what a landowner can expect if its their land that is chosen for a future turbine development site.

"The land owners that show as good potential for sites are approached and they're offered a contract for twenty years, a lease contract to lease the land or a portion of the land for installation of a wind turbine."

For those interested joining The Oxford Community Energy Co-op, buying a single $100 membership share in the Co-op provides a lifetime membership and invitations to future meetings.

More information can be found at: www.oxford-cec.ca