PRESS RELEASE David Mazur-Goulet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Communications Manager, OREC

March 29, 2017 david.mg@orec.ca
1 (855) 338-6732
 New Community-Led Solar Power Project in Alfred

OREC Members and Staff of the Conseil des coles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario stand on the roof of
Maurice Lapointe during the official launch of OREC's 13th project and Ottawa's 1000th solar rooftop
installation.

A new 500 kW ground mount solar power project is slated for construction this year in
Alfred, Ontario. Financed by hundreds of residents of Eastern Ontario, this community-
owned project is a first in Prescott Russell.

The Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op (OREC), a co-operative that is open to all
residents of Eastern Ontario, has acquired a limited partnership interest in this 500kW
system. OREC empowers communities to support the growth of the local renewable
energy sector through responsible investments that finance projects together as
members of a democratic co-operative.

The community financed project was approved by the previous council of the Township
of Alfred and Plantagenet. Ren Beaulne, councillor for Ward 1, declared the project to
be good for the economy, good for the region, and good for the environment.

Most regions in Eastern Ontario are underserved by renewable energy co-ops due to
the significant commitment required from volunteers to manage a co-op among other
reasons. OREC wants to make it easier for residents of Eastern Ontario to invest in
projects close to home by building new projects outside of Ottawa. said Janice
Ashworth, ORECs General Manager.

With conventional energy generation techniques most of the energy dollars flow out of
Ontarios local communities. For example, only 14% of all spending on electricity in
London (Ontario) stays in the community.
That number is significant for many reasons. It is a symptom of Ontarios over-
centralized electricity grid, where massive power plants produce the lions share of our
energy needs.

Keeping energy dollars close to home is an important challenge if we wish to live in

prosperous communities with strong local economies. Community-owned renewable
energy helps us face that challenge head on.

At OREC, all 13 solar power projects built to date were developed with investments
from residents of Eastern Ontario. When the co-op makes money from the power
generated, revenue is paid back to members. This model creates more jobs and
increases community awareness and acceptance of renewable energy in general.

Another challenge of the centralized energy grid is its dependence on long-distance

transportation of power. This means significant line loss (wasted power that simply
does not reach its destination), and leads to vulnerability during extreme weather
events. Never has this been more clear than it was during the 1998 ice storm and 2003
blackout.

Generating electricity partly with solar photovoltaic (PV) technology can therefore help
Ontario to both increase its grids efficiency, and reduce its grids vulnerability. The
energy generated through solar panels can be generated close to demand centres, thus
reducing transmission losses. It also peaks during those long sunny days when demand
on the grid is highest, due to energy-consuming air conditioning. Solar PV panels and
other renewable technologies can also play a significant role in reducing the amount of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions being emitted into the atmosphere.

Despite the major advancements in social financing and renewable energy, local
ownership of green power plants accounts for only a fraction of newly-built renewable
energy generation in Ontario. As co-ops like OREC increase their membership sizes,
we show our governments that communities care about these issues and are willing to
invest their money to see change.

To support this movement, join us for a discussion on community-owned power and the
new Alfred project at the Alfred Recreation Centre (555 St-Philippe St., Alfred, ON)
Monday, April 10th at 7:00 PM. Visit www.orec.ca/alfred for more information.

###

About the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op:

Invest in community-owned solar power and earn solid returns thanks to the Ottawa
Renewable Energy Co-op (OREC). Class A Preference Shares and Member
Investment Notes are available for purchase until April 30, 2017. Investments will
finance four new solar projects in Eastern Ontario, including a 500 kW solar garden in
Alfred, Ontario built in partnership with Keewaywin First Nation.

OREC provides an alternative for those without the time, money, or space to invest in
their own solar power system, and generates a fair return for investors. Community-led
projects support local industry and job-creation, expedite Ontario's transition to a clean
energy economy, and increase self-sufficiency and resiliency of local communities.

Learn more at OREC.CA