LIFE Projects

Wind

LIFE Co-op Vision

For our Wind power project we are currently working on a 3 way partnership between a Canadian wind farm developer, the Inventors of the first Canadian built, large scale wind turbine and LIFE Co-op. More details will be announced shortly.

Wind Test Site

LIFE Co-op has already completed data collection at 30 and 40 metre-high towers in locations throughout the area. A building permit has been obtained for a 60-metre tower, and the site is ready for its construction. Wind data will be collected from the new 60-metre tower for a full year in order to further establish the validity of turbine construction in our area. It’s a long research period, but the data already collected from the lower towers is very encouraging.

Bio-Gas

LIFE Co-op Inc. to Conduct Local Bio-Gas Feasibility Study
Local Initiative for Future Energy Co-operative Inc. (LIFE), a renewable energy Cooperative with a growing membership based in Wilmot Township, has been allocated $40,000 from Ag-CDI (Agricultural Co-operative Development Initiative) to study the feasibility of establishing a cluster of local bio-gas installations on farms in the Waterloo Region.

Bio-gas, also known as “green methane” or “renewable natural gas” is created through the fermentation of organic feedstock – including manure, food processing waste or various plant life and has become big business for farmers all across Europe.

LIFE Co-op Inc. is aiming for a unique partnership and investment model and will be seeking interested farmers and food processors to share in the benefits bio-gas production provides: the diversion of animal and food waste from landfills or other sites to energy production. The resultant by-product is a rich fertiliser with good nitrogen content but greatly reduced odour.

Various uses for the energy created, besides the production of electricity, range from heating swimming pools, greenhouses, animal facilities, and residences to drying municipal sewage sludge.

Benefits for participants include heat and electricity savings and the prospect of energy creation revenues. The first project could potentially serve as a training facility for bio-gas technicians.

Benefits for our environment include greenhouse gas reduction by capturing methane, one of the worst greenhouse gases commonly released into the atmosphere by any type of livestock production, and groundwater protection due to the fact that pathogens in manure are killed off in the fermenting process in the digester.

Individuals or organizations interested in joining co-operative and participating in the study and the development of bio-gas projects as another local sustainable energy resource are asked to contact LIFE Co-op Inc. at the contact information provided below. A member of LIFE Co-op Inc. has been engaged to manage the bio-gas research study, which will be conducted over the next 12 months. A very promising wind resource study done by members of the Co-operative has been well under way for almost 2 years.

LIFE Co-op Inc. welcomes new members at any time who share the vision to: “Foster Community investments in sustainable resources to reduce our environmental footprint”.

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