Welcome: Bala Energy Co-operative Inc. o/a Muskoka Community Energy is Ontario's first renewable energy co-op formed without equity shares.
We are social entrepeneurs helping Ontarians enjoy the benefits of our Feed in Tariff program for a $10 membership fee.
Municipal partners in Muskoka are invited to work with us to find the least destructive means of developing renewable energy resources.
Start-up funding consists of a $1 million + pool* of government and corporate grants (to be secured) from programs for building sustainable communities and infrastructure.
Development funding consists of $100 million+* in Bonds, debentures and other collateral securities (to be offered).
*Revenue from the sale of electricity will be used to "pay grants forward". Development funding will be repayable over 5 and 25 year periods. "Green Dragons" Welcome! Email us:What do you think of this initiative?
What is a cooperative?A cooperative is a business run by a group of people with a common interest who get together to build a business that meets their needs and provides member benefits.
What are our needs?
The members recognize the need for a socially responsible means of developing renewable energy generation projects while finding a balance between Green Energy values and other public values . Muskoka Community Energy will do this by:
• Studying the feasibility of various renewable energy generation options in Muskoka.
• Obtaining site control and power purchase agreements
• Informing and engaging members of the public and seeking environmental approvals
• Obtaining grid connection permits and other approvals/agreements
• Securing funding for business development, project development and operations
How do members benefit?
The co-operative will benefit the members by enabling citizen control of renewable energy projects. The members will enjoy the benefits of being in control of the facility’s development and operational processes.
Who else benefits?
Municipal, provincial and federal governments, electricity consumers, the environment and members of the community all enjoy the health and other benefits of clean energy and the local benefits from royalties and donations.
What happens to the profits?
Royalty payments to government and local interests will be negotiated on a case by case basis. As per the Section 1 (1) (d) of the Co-operative Corporations Act, the co-operative will be operated and administered such that any surplus funds will be used to support the well being of Municipal Ward A in the Township of Muskoka Lakes and the propagation of co-operative principles, after providing for the business of the organization, the needs of its members and ensuring a reasonable amount for the reserve fund.
The business of the Co-operative will be restricted to:
a. generating, within the meaning of the Electricity Act, 1998, as amended, electricity produced from one or more sources that are renewable energy sources for the purposes of that Act, and
b. selling, as a generator within the meaning of that Act, electricity it produces from one or more renewable energy sources.
There are over 4,990 co-operatives in the UK. They are owned by more than 12.9 million people. They create and sustain 237,800 jobs and contribute £33.5 billion in turnover to the United Kingdom economy.