Community Solar Power Co-operative to be established in Burlington

 BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, November 22, 2010 - BurlingtonGreen will announce the development of one of Ontario's first community renewable energy co-operatives at its November 23^rd Annual General Meeting. The new company, to be called BrightSky Power Community Solar Co-op, will enable people in Burlington to invest in and benefit from solar power installations.

"We are very pleased to announce the development of community solar energy in Burlington," said Michael Yakimchuk, a member of BurlingtonGreen's Board of Directors.  "The Ontario government's Green Energy Act and its attractive Feed-in Tariff (FIT) rates ensure profitable returns from solar power installations. However, until now not everyone could take advantage of the returns because they may not have the right type of roof or enough funds to put up their own system. BrightSky Power, through its co-operative structure, will allow almost anyone to participate at affordable investment levels."

BrightSky Power was initiated by BurlingtonGreen, with assistance from the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, and has been awarded a Community Energy Partnerships Program grant to begin development of the first community-owned solar project in Burlington.

"BurlingtonGreen is in negotiation with a number of area property owners and we soon expect to be able to install up to 340 kilowatts of solar panels. The installations will not only benefit co-operative members, but will also directly help the local business community by locally sourcing most of the roughly $2 million of development costs. And last but not least, the solar project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 90 tonnes every year" indicated Yakimchuk.

Additional information on BrightSky Power can be found at www.brightsky.ca

For more information please call or email:

Ken Woodruff
905-639-2262
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About the Community Energy Partnerships Program

The Community Energy Partnerships Program (CEPP) provides grants of up to $200,000 for community power projects developed by Ontario charities, not-for-profits, co-ops as well as individual Ontario residents, such as farmers. 

For more information visit www.communityenergyprogram.ca. or contact Rebecca Black, Community Energy Partnerships Program, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 416-535-2586.