There are some options open to community power projects seeking additional or alternative funding. We have compiled a list of some of the most prominent and promising sources of funding in the province of Ontario. This list is by no means exhaustive, so we have also posted links to other funding resources that we suggest you look into as well.
Community Energy Partnerships Program
Aboriginal Renewable Energy Network
Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI)
On Co-op Technical Assistance Fund
The Co-operators - Co-operative Development Program and Community Economic Development Fund
The Rural Economic Development Fund (RED)
The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation
Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF)
EcoACTION
Community Go Green Fund
EcoENERGY - Renewable Heat
Green Municipal Fund
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund
FedNor
Ontario Government's Green Energy Act Website
The Ontario Government's website has information on the Green Energy Act, including downloadable copies of the actual legislation and information on the key components relating to conservation, the green economy, and solar, wind, hydro and biogas technologies.
Green Energy Act Alliance
The Green Energy Act Alliance is an association of leading renewable energy organizations, environmental groups, First Nations, trade associations, farmers, developers and manufacturers that launched a campaign to create a green energy act for Ontario. Their website includes lots of background information on legislation in other jurisdictions, information on Feed-in Tariff programs around the world and information on how to get involved.
Feed-in Tariff Program Website
The rules for the Ontario Power Authority's Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and microFIT programs, including the contract terms, can be found here.
Renewable Energy Approval Rules
The Renewable Energy Approval can be found on the Ontario Government's E-Laws website. It contains all of the detailed regulations on things such as noise and other setbacks and what studies are required by the REA process etc.
Renewable Energy Facilitation Office
The Renewable Energy Facilitation Office (REFO) is being set up within the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to provide support to people thinking about pursuing a renewable energy project. It will be designed to be a starting point and provide information on what is involved in doing a project.
Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA)
OSEA is a wonderful source for information, support and workshops on completing a community power project in Ontario. They have a variety of excellent publications available to help with planning your project. Of particular value are the following
- Community Power Guidebook, which is a step-to-step guide for completing a community power project.
- Project Pre-Development and Financing Guidebook, which provides information both on corporate models (i.e., co-operatives, limited liability corporations and partnerships) as well as the steps and activities involved in financing a wide range of projects.
- Permitting and Approvals Processes for Community Power Projects (for wind and biogas), which provides an overview of timelines and activities pertaining to environmental assessments, community consultation and First Nation's engagement in particular, as well as land use planning requirements and permits.
- Ontario Landowner's Guide to Wind Energy, which has been developed specifically for rural landowners and farmers debating leasing their land to a private wind developer versus collaborating with neighbours to develop their own wind project.
- Solar Thermal Community Action Manual, which provides an overview of the activities, organizational models, technologies and financing for community solar thermal initiatives.
- Community Solar PV Guidebook
These Guidebooks are free to OSEA's full members, and some are free to the general public as well. If you are not a member of OSEA and are interested in the Community Power Guidebook, please contact Fund staff for more information.
Canadian Environmental Grantmakers Network
CEGN is a network of foundations that support environmental projects in Canada. One of their goals is to promote and increase environmental giving in Canada. Their website has a list of members under the "for grantseekers" heading with links to those member pages. While not all of the members grant funds in Ontario, there are many that may be worthwhile looking into on this list.
EcoACTION - The Green Source Database
This is a wonderful tool offered through Environment Canada?s EcoACTION website. It is a searchable database of funding sources in Canada. There are multiple search options available to allow you to narrow your search. You can search by, region, amount granted, and source of funding, for example, as well as by keyword.
Using a Renewable energy Co-op for Community Power Projects
This document provides an overview of how you can use a Co-op to do a renewable energy project. It provides an overview of why co-ops are useful, how to qualify as a renewable energy co-op, how shares work. The document was prepared by Brian Iler for the Ontario Co-operative Association.
Windustry
Windustry is a US based organization that promotes Community Power. Their website provides project development resources and other information for community renewable energy projects.
Integration of Renewable energy on Farms - IReF
This site launched April 2008 provides all sorts of resources including information on different technologies, case studies, tools and financing etc, all related to completing farm-based renewable energy projects.
Paul Gipe - Wind-works
Paul Gipe's web site has several useful articles, especially on solar project development and financing. Explore his site for information on Wind power as well.
Go Solar
Go Solar is a program of the Clean Air Foundation and has some excellent information on events, manufacturers and installers, and available incentives for solar projects.
Northwest Community Energy
This website provides the nuts-and-bolts information on how to create locally owned renewable energy facilities. Developed by Seattle based non-profit Northwest SEED --
Sustainable Energy for Economic Development -- the website provides case studies, step-by-step best practices, and other helpful information.
Critical Path Development
This document shows the critical path to developing a Community Power project and all of the key steps involved in project development.
Websites
Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
Community Action for Energy
Northwest Community Energy
Papers and Documents
Commission of the European Communities - Co-operatives in Enterprise Europe
The Jobs Connection: Energy Use and Local Economic Development
Small Packages, Big Benefits: Economic Advantages of Local Wind Projects
Updating Ontario's Standard Offer Program
Why Community Power?
Wind Energy Cooperative Development in Anglophone Canada
Articles and other News Releases
Community Supported Energy Offers A Third Way
Legal Guide to Help Farmers Make the Most of Windy Land
New Wind Association Forms in Quebec
Presentations
Introduction to Community Power
Logo for Online Use
Logo for Print Use
If you require a different file format, such as an ai or eps file, please contact the Fund directly.
 Back to Top
| 
