BVGEC - June 2020 Update
Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative
Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative would like to wish the best for our local businesses and their families during these times. There has never been a more important time to shop local!
The BVGEC Board held its midyear retreat on June 26th.
This was our first face to face, non-zoom meeting since March and a chance to celebrate our progress. We kept it physically distant, of course! We used this time to review our progress against 2020 goals and have adjusted our objectives accordingly. We have developed a 12-month strategy roadmap to assist in focusing our efforts towards “first watts”.
The Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative has signed its first collaboration agreement! BVGEC and Ralph Connor Memorial Church have commenced work on the process to see solar panels installed on the southern exposure of the church.
The committee structure that was put in place during May is working extremely well with all committees of the board making progress against their objectives:
The Finance and Administration team continues to focus on the development of our investment model with the aim to find the right balance between making projects financially attractive to potential hosts, while providing a reasonable return to investors. The team is working with representatives from other Renewable Energy Cooperatives throughout the country and is seeking additional advice from investment specialists.
The Communications and Promotions team is busy finalizing a branding and communications strategy for BVGEC and increasing our social media presence. We are also working with the membership team on volunteer and member on-boarding and associated communications
The Governance team is finalizing our draft our bylaws ready for consideration and adoption by our members at our first AGM.
The Membership and Stakeholder Engagement team has been working on an online membership application and payment platform. We are also detailing goals and strategies for membership recruitment. In addition to preparing to engage our current supporters in volunteer opportunities and introduce our working committees. We completed a review and analysis of the ‘Getting Involved’ survey.
The Technology and Business Development is now officially formed with 15 volunteer members. we have brought together representatives from the worlds of renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste diversion, local students and their schools and local municipalities. We will convene our first meeting in July and set up our committee framework.
The Project Development committee is developing a Request for Supplier Qualification document, ready for review by the board of directors. We aim to have this sent out to potential suppliers by mid July.
Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative joined other renewable energy cooperatives in a submission to the federal government asking for financial stimulus support for renewable energy cooperatives and community enterprises. Support for community cooperatives and enterprises can put Canadians back to work and assist in greening of Canada’s energy supply portfolio.
Thank you to those who registered their interest to volunteer with BVGEC!
BVGEC is a volunteer-run, social enterprise that will face many challenges as we try and achieve our goal of making green energy affordable and accessible in the Bow Valley.
We are calling on members of our community to volunteer for any of our subcommittees and make this vision a reality!
If you want to identify yourself as a potential volunteer and have not already done so, please complete this brief form, we would love to hear from you!
Hoping that you will stay safe during this period of uncertainty,
Jeff Roberts
Chairperson, Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative
July 15, 2020