Get in touch!
LIFE's office is in the Treehaus Collaborative Workspace, 260 King Street West, Kitchener, N2G 1B6.
Office hours are by chance or appointment. Please call us at 1-866-889-9155, or email info@lifecoop.ca, to schedule a visit.
Check out LIFE's new Facebook Page!
.Downloads
NEW!: LIFE's Draft Business Plan
Coming Events and Appearances
Come out and hear more about our work (and that of our friends)!
Watch here for upcoming events in the Spring of 2012.
Recent Appearances
January 10, 2012: LIFE Co-op and CREW co-hosted "Local Opportunities in Green Energy" at Kitchener City Hall. This presentation outlined existing and upcoming community renewable power initiatives and ways community members can get involved - including through investment in renewable energy projects - and the environmental, social and economic benefits available. Featured opportunities included LIFE Co-op's St Agatha Wind Project, CREW's Solar City Initiative, CREW's Solar City Co-op Project, and Guelph Solar Community Co-op.
November 28, 2011: LIFE and CREW co-hosted a public meeting on LOCAL RENEWABLE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES at Kitchener City Hall.
November 23, LIFE held another community meeting at Angie's Kitchen in St Agatha. November 15, at the 11th Annual OSEA Community Power Conference, LIFE presented its project at the session on "Community Power Offerings". November 1-2, Montreal: Shane's presentation on community power was well received at Climate Action Network Canada's conference on provincial leadership in climate change and clean energy. LIFE's AGM was held October 26 at Angie's Kitchen in St Agatha. The AGM was preceded by a *public presentation from ENERCON*. October 22: LIFE's held its Annual Renewable Energy Tour! Tour participants visited a local biogas installation, a 10 kW solar array, and a biodiesel-powered pick-up. October 20: LIFE participated in a Co-op Biogas Workshop at the Holiday Inn, 510 Norwich St., Woodstock. Hosted by the Agrienergy Producers of Ontario and TREC(Toronto Renewable Energy Co-op). October 19: LIFE attended the 11th Annual Co-op Conference and Gala, hosted by On Co-op, at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. Sept. 29, LIFE participated in an candidates' forum on environmental issues at Rockway Mennonite Church. A video recording of the event can be viewed at this Youtube link. Sept. 15, LIFE hosted the "Roadmap to Success": OSEA's Community Energy Information Session at City Hall in Kitchener. Sept. 6: LIFE Co-op held a community information meeting at Angie's Kitchen in St Agatha. August 27: Potatofest at the Laepple Organic Farm, 2298 Bleam's Road, 1-7pm. Linda Laepple is a founding director of LIFE Co-op. See http://laeppleorganic.ca/.
August 25: CREW Green Movie Night, featuring "Powerful: Energy for Everyone". LIFE Co-op shared information on the St Agatha Wind Project. August 14: LIFE's project manager discussed the co-op and the St Agatha wind project as part of "Get FIT: A Green Energy Act Information Session", held in Downtown Waterloo. The event was hosted by Waterloo PIRG and Reduce the Juice. July 20: Community Meeting at Angie's Kitchen, St Agatha. June 30: LIFE presented its project opportunities as part of the Climate Action Network's "Harvesting Clean Energy on Ontario Farms" Speaking Tour, at Ignatius Jesuit Centre, Hwy 6 North, Guelph February 14, 2011Press Releases
LIFE Co-op Receives CEPP Grant
for Wind Project
LIFE Membership
How to Become a Member
Membership is open to Ontario residents over 16 years of age. Please print and complete the Membership Application Form and mail it with payment of $175, to:
Local Initiative for Future Energy Co-operative Inc.
@ The Treehaus Collaborative Workspace
260 King St W, Kitchener, N2G 1B6
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about membership, by email
or phone 1 (866) 889-9155.
Why Become a Member?
Co-op membership involves degrees of both ownership and of participation in decision-making. Each member becomes a part owner in the co-op and its projects, and all members are entitled to vote in elections of Board members and in decisions on the co-op's direction and plans. Members are also encouraged to volunteer as directors or on any number of operations committees.
Each member of the co-op purchases a membership share that entitles him or her to vote on how the co-op is run, and to receive dividends from the co-op when they become available. As the co-op's projects generate profits, this will be distributed among shareholders and members, and/or invested in further renewable energy projects.
Members can help steer these investments to meet co-operative and community needs. Membership provides a sense of ownership and control over the development of renewable energy, and a chance to participate in building the energy infrastructure of the future, reducing pollution and being an active part of societal change. We encourage you to join LIFE so that you can be a part of the solution to today's energy dilemma.
Do I Need to Volunteer?
No, contributions of volunteer time are not mandatory. However, LIFE Co-op may periodically invite you to join a committee and/or contribute your skills to a project. A co-op is made up of its members, and such contributions are always welcome.
Will My Membership Affect My Hydro Bill?
No, not unless the project is located on your property and you choose a "net metering" arrangement, or can disconnect from the grid altogether. This may be possible with biogas projects, small wind or solar. Commercial sized projects are generally connected to the grid, and the power sold under the Ontario Power Authority's FIT contract, which offers far better financial returns than other options.