Co-Op Meeting Notes December 18, 2018

Athabasca Renewable Energy Co-op

Initiators Meeting

Present: Harvey Scott, Rosemary Neaves, Robert Chernish, Wayne Brehaut, Jean Brehaut, Lisa Allan, Penny Joseph, Rusty Bellamy, Mike Gismondi, Bruce Jackson, Lori Claterhout

The meeting was held on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional lands of many Indigenous and Métis peoples, in the Train Station, Athabasca, AB.

Discussion with Seth Leon, Alberta Community and Co-operative Assoc. (ACCA) via teleconference.

• “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
• Community members own something together to meet a need and share the risk. What is the need? What is the scope? Who are your members?
• Make a work plan to understand the need, members, scope and feasibility.
  • Committee could be formed
  • Need to understand regulations, competition, customers
  • Talk to specialists if possible
  • Identify potential partners in the community
  • • • Municipalities
      • University
      • School Board
      • Private Businesses
      • Rural property owners

• • Research available grants and funding opportunities
• Create your “pitch”

Items to be considered for vision statement:

• There should be no net carbon produced by the renewable energy.
• Membership shares should be affordable and membership means 1 member, 1 vote.
• Consideration should be given when taking arable/productive land out of use for projects. Is this the highest and best use for this land?

Discussion was held on the following:

• Why renewables for Athabasca and region?
  
  It will benefit the community in multiple ways:

• • • energy security
    • reducing carbon footprint
    • job creation
    • local investment
    • local ownership of essential services
• What would be the most likely projects be?

• • Community scale solar installation close to high volume user (water treatment plant, airport, industrial, farm/rural community, University grounds)
  • Rooftop solar installations on municipal or commercial buildings
  • Consumer level installations – co-op owns equipment and leases to members
  • Solar installation company
  • Investment co-op (PACE funder)

• What other renewables could be considered?

• • • Geothermal
    • Hydro
    • Biomass/Biogas
    • Wind

• Who would be the most likely partners?

• • Athabasca County
  • Town of Athabasca
  • First Nations
  • Rural property owners

• • Athabasca University
  • school division
  • private businesses

• What’s Next?

• • Create committee to build business plan “pitch”. Includes feasibility study, research grants and funding, confirm and understand regulations and pricing.
  • Meet with possible partners to deliver pitch and share information on how renewable energy could benefit them.
  • Start process to make co-op official.
  • Create communication tools to build interest (Website, Facebook page, newsletter, posters).
  • Collect information via surveys & workshops.

Next Meeting:

• January 22, 2019 6-8 pm, Train Station, Athabasca, AB