Ontario - Communities in Waterloo Region, Peterborough County, Nipissing, Greater Toronto Area and Northwestern Ontario forge ahead with renewable energy project development

Toronto - The Community Power Fund announced the approval of six new grants to communities across Ontario. The projects represent a diverse group of initiatives including: a First Nation's small-hydro project in the northwestern Ontario, a solar/wind project at a mosque in Maple, a co-operatively owned wind farm west of Kitchener, a solar/geothermal project at the Buckhorn Community Center, a Toronto housing co-operative solar thermal initiative, and a First Nations biomass cogeneration plant near North Bay.

"It is wonderful to see these projects moving forward given all of the barriers communities face when they pursue a renewable energy project in Ontario," said Meghan MacLennan, the Community Power Fund's Program Manager. "The projects represent a cross section of Ontario and reflect how community power can be harnessed by all Ontarians."

The approval of these six applications represents a much-needed investment of over $179,000 in sustainable community development. "This grant will enable us to determine the best course of action that is both feasible and environmentally responsible," said Director of the Buckhorn Community Centre, Sean Flanagan. "Without the CPFund grant, we would not have been able to explore the feasibility of doing a renewable energy project in our community."

"While these projects are a good model for other community efforts, they are just the tip of the iceberg. Ontario needs legislation that will help remove barriers and level the playing field for community power" said Deb Doncaster, Executive Director of the Community Power Fund. "The Green Energy Act will be the seminal piece of legislation providing support for Community Power in Ontario."

The Community Power Fund was founded in 2007 by the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) with $3 million in seed money from the Government of Ontario. The Community Power Fund's goal is to ensure communities wanting to develop and own local renewable energy projects have access to financial resources through all stages of project development.