Comment Feeds

Social Finance Forum

Reblacka — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:34:45 +0000

Looks like an amazing event Jo, we'll take the opportunity to the team and hope to see you there. We are always looking to improve our capacity to understand the impact investing sector, how to express and build value in the social finance field, and outreach like-minded investors and individuals to participate in (and support) the co-op. Thanks for the tip.

The sky is the limit!

Reblacka — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:32:10 +0000

Thanks Mary for the encouraging words ... slogging through the details is a part of any growing business and we're up for the job. You've really hit the nail on the head though ... this sort of 'community bond' model is a great way to raise affordable capital to invest in any number of sustainable business ideas that can offset carbon, increase quality of iife, build community and allow for widespread participation.

And I think you're speaking of Ursula Sladek, a woman from the small community of Schönau in Germany's Black Forest, who rallied her community to raise the funds and purchase the local grid - so they produce power and they control the distribution as well. Amazing!

Cheers, Rebecca and the SolarShare team

SolarShare Video

Reblacka — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:27:29 +0000

Thanks Green Heroes - you're the pro's in videos and we hope you'll like our 'intro' video for SolarShare:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8AR0skyZIs

We've been holding initial talks with financial institutions about how Ontario account-holders could integrate SolarShare bonds into their RRSP / RESP / TFSA portfolios ... it's early days with the big banks (and a small team working on it) and we're hoping our members will also take the opportunity to their financial representatives when the bonds are approved by FSCO (a major hold-up so far!).

Thanks for posting, and your proposal (and work to date) look awesome.

Transmission corridors, anyone?

mpickering — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:04:30 +0000

This proposal provides great integration between business ideals and environmental purpose - a great social venture. It helps build renewable energy in Ontario and could be applicable to other energy systems and approaches, too (see ZooShare!)

Financing the next stage of Innovation

GreenHeroes — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:01:16 +0000

The SolarShare proposal is about the future and how to finance the change the world needs - encouraging the purchase of these kinds of bonds is a great idea and makes me think that parents might consider buying these for their children. It is this kind of PSA or commercial that would be great to see on TV!

Congratulations for 100 members in Solar Share!

Jo Reynolds — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:30:15 +0000

I wanted to let people know that MaRS is having an "Investing in Good Deals" conference on December 13th and 14th. One of the workshops is digging into community power and how to move investment in this area. You can check out the program and register here http://socialfinanceforum.eventbrite.com.

Bursaries are avialable for Nonprofits and social enterprises.

Marketing SolarShare

Reblacka — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:22:28 +0000

SolarShare hit the 100 member mark last week, and word is spreading. We recognize we need to step up the marketing but due to limited budgets we're holding off until we can meet the demands of multiple bond sales and RRSP eligibility - these are both only going to happen with regulatory approvals and we're working on that too!

A great social investment with real returns

brockwarner — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:24:18 +0000

I think it is fantastic that this is providing community members the opportunity to invest in a way that will provide solid financial returns, as well as benefitting the environment. The city, province, and country needs more investment like this.

Renewable Energy Bonds

Reblacka — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:45:31 +0000

Sounds great! TREC co-op (the incubator of SolarShare as well as the WindShare co-op) would love the opportunity to eventually bundle the technology-specific projects / co-op member investment products and sell RE bonds, and look forward to the day when we've built a portfolio of projects / investment products to work with.

We are always looking for partners (commercial or co-op) for project development: perhaps a bundled renewable energy project bond is one way to move that option along. Thanks for provoking the thought ...

Emissions Reductions: SolarShare

Reblacka — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:44:18 +0000

Dear Bryan,

Thanks for pointing out inconsistencies in our emissions reductions calculations. I'm going to update our submission and here's more information, below!

UPDATE: In the few weeks since we posted our SolarShare submission, the total output of our installations has climbed to 270 MW, which using the .186 g/kWh equation means carbon displacement of over 50,000 kg. Why is our track record to date so important? One of the arguments we hear against solar development is that the technology isn’t efficient and doesn’t really produce any significant power. We as a co-op are very keen to provide transparent information to our members and to the general public about how solar works to create energy and limit emissions - and educate ‘solar nay-sayers’!

POTENTIAL: That said, we’re very excited about the future power generation potential and carbon emissions offsets inherent in our portfolio of PV projects. If we never installed another solar power plant, our current portfolio of 18 plans representing over 600 kW of installed capacity, should displace about 152,000 kg of carbon per year, decreasing by 0.5% annually as panels age.

VISION: The vision for SolarShare is to build the co-op’s project pipeline and maximize the number of citizens who can become members and invest in solar in Ontario through SolarShare bonds. How expansion plans are going to play out is tough to say: there are many variables (access to capital is a big one) and a lot depends on the current Feed-in-Tariff review and the new prices being set by the Ontario Power Authority soon. Regardless, the co-op looking to add another 250-500 kW of projects in the very short term, bringing potential offsets to between 200,000 - 250,000 kg of carbon displaced annually.

Cheers, Rebecca (PS can't wait until we get our FSCO approval either!)