To provide a method for individuals to invest in renewable energy projects through effective partnerships between communities and individuals.
To bring together citizens and organizations to create a prosperous energy industry in Ontario that benefits everyone – through education, empowerment and participation.
As a co-operative, CED Co-op is guided by the 7 Co-operative Principles, and as a renewable energy developer, the principles of socially responsible investment.
CED Co-op is championing the acceleration of renewable energy development in Ontario. We are a community of like-minded individuals working together to build meaningful and impactful projects that improve the lives of everyone.
The CED co-op is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2022. Over the past 10 years the Co-operative has focused on solar energy development in Ontario. Over the next decade we will be concentrating on additional initiatives such as the carbon credit market, electrification of vehicles, energy-efficient fleets, green buildings, and virtual/community net-metering energy markets.
The CED Co-op began as a team of visionaries and renewable energy experts who wanted to provide friends and family with an environmentally-friendly way to invest. Inspired by renewable energy and how it can make our world a better place, we started our story with a small handful of solar projects in our hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo. Since then, the CED Co-op has grown to host over 100 projects Ontario-wide. Our membership has grown too! We now have over 800 members supporting our renewable energy developments.
Community Energy Development Co-operative was incorporated in the Province of Ontario under the Co-op Act on October 31, 2012, as a for-profit co-operative with share capital. CED Co-op was formed in response to several market factors:
The Ontario FIT Program
The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) developed the Feed-in-tariff (FIT) Program for the Province of Ontario to encourage and promote greater use of Renewable Energy in Ontario. The fundamental objective of the FIT Program, in conjunction with the Green Energy and Green Economy Act and Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan, was to facilitate the increased development of renewable energy generating facilities of varying sizes, technologies and configurations via a standardized, open, and fair process.
FIT Program Focus on Community Ownership
Through the various versions of the FIT Program, there were several successive sets of rule changes, rate changes, and changes in the mechanisms and processes for the awarding of contracts. Many of the changes in the rules and the contract process increased the likelihood of receiving contracts for community projects structured through co-operatives.
Economic Development Model
With changing rates and rule sets, evolving technologies, and increased pressure on project economics it was, and remains, difficult for an individual Project owner to fully inform themselves of the rules and technology in order to design and construct an optimized, contracted, Renewable Energy Facility. Taking a portfolio approach to project development gives CED Co-op access to higher levels of expertise and reduced risk.
Challenging the Economics for Small Projects
Modern, free-market energy generation projects come at steep upfront costs. Residential solar projects cost anywhere between $25,000 and $40,000 depending on their location, material selection, installation method and electrical design. Federal Grants are relied upon to make them prosperous, while provincial energy subsidies (Ontario Electricity Rebate) challenge the payback. Navigating this as a homeowner can feel burdensome over the investment horizon when they just want to make a difference. The CED Coop is focused on projects at scale. Through larger projects our members and investors accelerate change.
The Co-operative is investigating new, alternative ways that green technology, such as heat pumps, can simplify and improve the economics of electrification for individuals. Projects such as solar, energy storage and electric vehicle chargers all function better with scale and create better opportunities for investing with impact.
Changing the Landscape for Energy
From the latest IESO planning report (Annual Planning Outlook 2024) all sectors including mining, transit, buildings, agriculture, etc will continue to drive heavier demand on our electricity system. For example, the advent of electric vehicles (passenger, public buses, school buses and heavy equipment) will add up to 20% demand year over year for the next decade. This is an unprecedented increase in our planned consumption of power. The CED Co-op is positioning itself to focus on technologies that support the increasingly evident challenges our province faces. We will support organizations most impacted by these systemic shifts through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) or equipment leases.
We want to build on our success. In order to continue to expand our impact, we are focusing on growing our membership. The Co-operative is investing in improving our online presence to make it easier to become a member and engage. Currently in development, our modernized member services portal is designed to simplify the process of joining and investing with the Co-operative. This new securities platform will enable the Co-operative to verify and trade carbon credits, while providing streamlined self-serve investment functionality for our members.
CED Co-op is governed by our Board of Directors, comprised of industry insiders, consisting of up to 11 directors elected by the membership. The current board members are:
Brody Rebelo brings a wealth of experience and expertise in financial reporting, analysis, and forecasting to his nomination for the Board of CED Co-op. With a solid background in preparing annual financial statements for CEDC during his tenure as Director of Finance at VCT Group under the Management Services Agreement, Brody has an intimate understanding of the Co-op’s financial landscape. Currently serving as the Corporate Finance Manager at Kingsley Management Inc., he manages monthly forecasts and financial statements for a diverse portfolio of companies in Construction Services, Equipment Rental, and Hospitality, collectively overseeing over $300M in assets. Additionally, his part-time consulting engagements with small businesses, where he prepares detailed financial statements and business plans, further attest to his broad financial acumen. Brody’s extensive experience and developed relationships in his professional career will bring valuable perspectives and insights to the Board, aiding in strategic planning, investment decisions, financing, and prudent financial management, thereby benefiting all members of the Community Energy Development Co-operative.
Steve has an extensive background in solar PV, both technical and project development. He has built and designed his own installation from scratch and was also responsible for EPC execution of the FRV/SunEdison Apex Solar development in North Las Vegas, NV. Steve has also held several general management positions, both with ABB and with Plexal Group in Perth, Australia. At Plexal Group, Steve reported to the board of directors and interacted extensively with them including navigating the business through the Global Financial Crisis and managing cash reserves very tightly. Typically, Steve is part of the front-end development of opportunities and he brings strong risk management/mitigation skills and to ensure that once secured, the opportunity can be delivered with predictable and desired outcomes. Steve has been a licensed Professional Engineer (POE) since 1988 and completed his MBA in 2012, while working full-time. He likes the challenge of a difficult problem and brings his diverse background and collaborative nature to his assignments.
Chris brings more than twenty-five years of advocacy experience and leadership in Canada and globally. Chris has a MA in Political Science from Carleton University in Ottawa. Chris worked for Mennonite Central Committee for some 10 years, including 4 years as Director of the Ottawa government relations office, where he engaged Parliamentarians and government officials on global and national issue. In 2001, he joined World Vision (WV) Canada as a Policy Advisor on Peacebuilding and Conflict, where he supported child-rights focused advocacy on countries and regions of conflict and fragility. Chris became Director of the WV Canada Advocacy and Education team in 2007, leading 20 policy and advocacy staff, and collaborating with WV colleagues and civil society partners in Canada and globally. In 2011, Chris joined the World Vision International Advocacy team as Director of External Relations and is now Senior Director of Public Policy. In this role, Chris provides overall strategic leadership to World Vision’s global public policy development on issues such as violence against children, child rights, climate and food security. He also leads World Vision engagement and/or has been a public and media spokesperson at the G7, G20, COP27 and at the UN. He has also taught undergraduate courses on advocacy at Conrad Grebel University College. Chris has been on several Boards of Directors including with Project Ploughshares (representing MCC), Citizens for Public Justice and Geneva-based Child Rights Connect representing World Vision International. Currently, Chris is responsible for a team of 5 and a budget of close to US $1.2 million (staff and project budgets.) In relation to the work of CED Co-op, Chris and his wife Loral were relatively “early adopters” of the Ontario Micro-fit program with a 2.5Kw/h PV south facing installation plus 2 solar hot water panels on their house. He is dedicated to doing what he can in his personal and professional life to address issues related to climate change and climate justice. Chris as a Board member would be someone with strong strategic skills, and many years of experience developing and delivering advocacy/lobbying plans directed at policy makers in Canada and globally. He has a strong passion for addressing climate justice and believes this should include choices citizens are making through their investments, their homes, cars and other consumer purchases that have the power to create broader societal change. He would be honoured to be considered for a role on the Board of the CED Coop.
