Contact Us!
LIFE Co-op, c/o Treehaus Collaborative Workspace, 79 Joseph St., Kitchener, N2G 1J2.
Please call us at 1-866-889-9155, or email info@lifecoop.ca, to schedule a visit or meeting.
Join the Co-op and Invest in our Renewable Energy Future
Draft Project Description Report for the St Agatha Wind Project
Our Friends
Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW)
Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA)
Ontario Co-operative Association
Get Involved!
Join the Co-op!
A co-op is made up of its members. The first step in participating in LIFE's vision is to join the co-op!
A membership share costs only $75, and entitles you to vote at meetings, and to receive regular updates on the co-op and its projects.
As a member you can also invest in the co-op by purchasing Preference shares, with a par value of $50 each (the par value remains constant for the life of the share). Early shares will receive a 20% premium over shares sold later (after an offering statement is receipted by The Financial Services Commission of Ontario***.
(For more details on the Co-op share structure and the FSCO, scroll down or click here.)
Property Owner Opportunities
Do you have land suitable for a wind turbine or solar project? The Waterloo Region has reasonable wind resources, which could be profitably developed under the FIT program. LIFE would like to hear from landowners who might want to consider leasing a site for a future wind turbine. You can earn substantial payments, help build a greener energy future, and provide a solid, local investment opportunity for members of the community.
Volunteer Opportunities
LIFE Co-op has been built on volunteers sharing their skills and knowledge, by serving as a director, joining a project working group, assisting in day to day operations, or by representing the co-op at events and meetings. We are fortunate to have experts from different areas among our members, and are eager to hear from other members who want to use their skills to assist the co-op.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to volunteer.
Investment Opportunities
In Ontario, all Co-op shares are "par value" shares, meaning they retain their purchase price for the life of the share. A LIFE Co-op membership share with voting rights has a par value of $75. * Preference shares, currently available only to members, have a par value of $50. Preference shares will receive dividends prior to member share dividends; annual dividend payments will be determined by the Board of Directors. Members are encouraged to purchase their shares early to assist the co-op's operations and development. Members are welcome to make larger investments by purchasing 10, 20 or more shares. Non-member investment loans are invited, also: terms and interest rates will be negotiated, and individual investor meetings can be arranged.
Early investors are needed to help finance development by purchasing Class A (Series 1) shares. These shares will pay dividends at a rate of 120% of other shares in perpetuity. Series 1 shares will no longer be sold once LIFE's offering statement is "receipted".
Click here for a Preference Shares Order Form.
*** In Ontario, co-ops are limited in the funds they can raise before having an offering statement passed ("receipted") by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). Offering statements contain full and complete disclosure of information that members and other investors need in order to decide whether to invest in the co-op's securities (shares and member loans). The offering statement will describe the co-op's business and how the funds raised by selling securities will be used.
Added Value
LIFE Co-op is committed to ensuring its projects give back added environmental, social, and economic benefits. Here's some figures regarding our St Agatha Wind Project:
Ecological/Environmental Benefits
- A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of up to 1000 tonnes/year.
- Education through local community meetings, environmental fairs, energy tours, and working with other local environmental groups.
- Building awareness and acceptance of renewable energy.
- Proving the model of community-owned power.
Economic Benefits
- Overall returns (pre-tax IRR) for the project in the 8-9% range.
- Dividends to local investors of 5-6% for 20 years.
- LIFE is committed to employing local businesses where possible for development, construction and operations.
Community Benefits
- The project, and profits, will be owned by community members and other Ontario residents.
- LIFE’s Community Fund will distribute 10% of returns to community initiatives, including further environmental and educational efforts.
- Community co-operation can help build a sense of pride and collective achievement.
A $7,000 investment in our wind turbine project will enable the generation of a share of electricity equal to that used in an average household. A $2000 investment will satisfy the demands of the "One Tonne Challenge" - to offset one tonne of carbon emissions annually - for 20 years! Your investment will provide monetary returns directly to you, while helping deliver green electricity to all Ontarions. (As the electricity cannot be fed directly to your house, it must be sold to the distribution grid.) For more information, see the Ontario Power Authority Feed-in-Tariff Program.