West Kootenay Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Conference

Conference Output Report September 7-9, 2017

Acknowledgements

The West Kootenay EcoSociety would like to acknowledge that the 2017 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency conference would not have been possible without generous contributions of time and resources. Thank you to our funders, who see the value in our work, and support our vision for long-term sustainability in the Kootenays. Thank you to all the local businesses who donated food, coffee, refreshments, time, and energy to make our conference a success. A final thank you to our many volunteers, without whom none of our work would be possible.

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Executive Summary

The West Kootenay EcoSociety held the West Kootenay Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Conference from September 7-9th, 2017 in Castlegar BC. The conference was integral to EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays initiative, which aims to transition the West Kootenay region onto 100% renewable energy by 2050. The conference was designed to build momentum for the transition to 100 % renewable energy by connecting local municipal and regional district representatives with leaders who have already made the commitment to 100% renewable energy. Councillor Andrea Reimer and Climate Change Policy Manager, Matt Horne, from the City of Vancouver joined forces with Jay Heaman, Manager of Strategic Initiatives in Oxford County to inspire, inform, and encourage West Kootenay leaders to join them at the helm of climate change action. Political will was identified as the most significant prerequisite to creating and implementing renewable energy plans that take equally into account environmental, social, and economic considerations. Recognizing the importance of public buy-in, the conference included a Public Forum where residents from across the West Kootenay came together to learn about renewable energy options, and share their vision for sustainable and thriving communities for years to come. Local experts in renewable energy generation and energy efficiency hosted workshops throughout the day, in addition to exhibits in the main hall, connecting residents with the expertise necessary to create individual change. During the conference, EcoSociety unveiled an energy model completed for the West Kootenay region, depicting a possible pathway to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The aim of the conference was to demonstrate that the transition to 100% renewable energy is feasible as well as desirable for the West Kootenay region, as it could provide long-term economic and environmental sustainability. It was additionally a space for local stakeholders, including citizens, to connect from across the region to build relationships to support the transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

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Contents

Acknowledgements 1 Executive Summary 2 Conference Agenda 7 Thursday – Keynote Address 10 Vancouver’s Story 10 Friday – Stakeholder Day 13 Vancouver’s Story 13 West Kootenay Context 13 Breakout Exercise I: Visioning and Principles 15 Visioning Exercise 15 Principles Exercise 17 Implementation and Partnership 17 Breakout Exercise II: Learning and Building 19 Political Will 19 Policy 20 Rural Integration and Regional Partnerships 21 Community Support and Building Momentum 21 Accelerate Kootenays & Transportation 21 Saturday – Public Day 23 The Story of Oxford County, Ontario 23 Energy Workshops I 23 Designing for Tomorrow, Today 23 Sun Shining Beyond the Fossil Fuel Age 23 The Invisible Fuel 24 100% Possible: The West Kootenay’s Context 24 Energy Workshops II 25 Making Cents of Renewable Energy 25 100% Renewable Kootenays: Organizing to Win 25 More Good > Less Bad 26

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Panel Discussion: Local Action 27 Update on the Impacts of the Conference – Success Stories 29 Next Steps for Consideration & Additional Resources 29 100% RE Building Blocks 29 100% RE Map 29 Contacts 29 Appendix 30

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Conference Agenda

Keynote Address Thursday, September 7th, 2017

7:00 pm - 7:15 pm WELCOME

Introductions; First Nations welcome; opening of the Conference

7:15 pm - 9:00 pm VANCOUVER’S STORY

Presentation (90m): Andrea Reimer -- why is Vancouver transitioning to 100% Renewable Energy

Stakeholder Day Agenda Friday, September 8th, 2017

10:00 am - 10:15 am WELCOME

Introductions; First Nations welcome; table rounds; context-setting; review agenda and process

10:15 am - 10:45 am VANCOUVER’S STORY - Abridged version

Presentation (15m): Andrea Reimer -- why is Vancouver transitioning to 100% Renewable Energy

10:45 am - 11:15 am WEST KOOTENAYS CONTEXT

Presentation (15m): Andras Beda and Fiona Galbraith on energy in the West Kootenays

1) current status on the makeup of how energy is currently generated, emissions, policies

2) what’s technically achievable for a renewable energy mix

11:15 am - 12:30 pm BREAKOUT EXERCISE I: VISIONING AND PRINCIPLES

Visioning Exercise (30m): Small group work, generate individual visions for energy in

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the region, graphically, and discuss.

Principles (30m): Generate and deliberate principles to govern 100% Renewable Energy in West Kootenays

12:30 pm - 1:15 pm LUNCH

1:15 pm - 2:05 pm IMPLEMENTATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

Presentation: Matt Horne and Jay Heaman on planning for and implementing 100% Renewable Energy and strategic partnerships

2:05 pm - 3:45 pm BREAKOUT EXERCISE II: LEARNING AND BUILDING

Participants will join a group for a facilitated dialogues on specific subjects, with an expert at the table.

Political will (Andrea Reimer)

Policy (Matt Horne)

Rural integration and regional partnerships (Jay Heaman)

Community support and building momentum (Matthew Carroll)

Accelerate Kootenays & Transportation (Trish Dehnel)

3:45 pm - 4:15 pm CLOSING

Next steps; thank you; post-conference survey; and workshop close.

4:30 pm – 6:30 pm RECEPTION

Appetizers will be provided and drinks will be available

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Public Day Agenda Saturday, September 9th, 2017

10:00 am - 10:15 am WELCOME

KEYNOTE: THE STORY OF OXFORD COUNTY, ONTARIO

10:15 am - 11:00 am Presentation by Jay Heaman -- why Oxford County is going to 100% renewable energy; working with other levels of government; and the worldwide movement.

ENERGY WORKSHOPS 1

Designing for Tomorrow, Today - Lukas Armstrong 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Sun Shining Beyond the Fossil Fuel Age - Kip Drobish, Oso Solar

The Invisible Fuel - Carol Suhan, Fortis BC

LUNCH 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Food truck available

100% POSSIBLE: THE WEST KOOTENAYS CONTEXT

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Presentation by Andras Beda and Fiona Galbraith on the West Kootenays -- what’s happening already in our region, and how we can reach 100% renewable energy.

ENERGY WORKSHOPS 2

Making Cents of Renewable Energy - Jim Jacobsen, Mesla Energy 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm 100% Renewable Kootenays: Organizing to Win - EcoSociety

More Good > Less Bad - Andrew Zwicker

PANEL DISCUSSION: LOCAL ACTION

Carmen Proctor, Nelson Solar Garden 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Trish Dehnel, Accelerate Kootenays

Carol Suhan, Renewable Natural Gas

CLOSING 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Next steps; thank you.

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Thursday – Key Note Address1

Vancouver’s Story Speaker: Councillor Andrea Reimer Number of Participants: approximately 90 Time: 7:15pm – 9:00pm

Andrea Reimer was first elected in 2002 as a School Board trustee with the Green Party. She was elected to Vancouver City Council in 2008, and re-elected in 2011 and 2014. As the lead councillor on the City's award-winning Greenest City Action Plan, Councillor Reimer has spearheaded efforts to make Vancouver a global leader in environmental action. Councillor Reimer’s hard work and dedication led Vancouver to be named the fourth greenest city on Earth in 2014. Councillor Reimer shared how in 2009 the Mayor created the Greenest City Action Team that launched the work on being the greenest city on Earth by 2020, and how they started the Renewable City Strategy in 2015 by committing to transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050. While working on these initiatives, the City considered the impacts that their actions had on Vancouver’s struggles with homelessness and housing affordability. Councillor Reimer emphasized on several occasions the four most important ingredients to reach green targets are leadership, having a plan, taking action, and engagement. Leadership is listed first and foremost, as it is truly the lynch pin that holds all the subsequent pieces together. As Councillor Reimer said, “If you don’t have a good leader, you need to find it, support it, or be it!” However, she highlighted that a leader requires a plan with quantified targets to be able to successfully implement an idea. Councillor Reimer reminded attendees that, “some is not a number, and soon is not a time”. In Vancouver, a team of 16 experts was tasked with setting the targets for the city. The team defined and set goals in the following ten areas: ● Buildings & transportation, ● Municipal waste, ● Climate and renewable energy, ● Access to drinking water, ● Clean water, ● Local food,

1 To watch Andrea Reimer’s full talk, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw0rQCLUdzg&feature=youtu.be 9

● Clean air, ● Green economy/economic stability, ● Access to nature, and ● Developing a lighter footprint of residents. The 16 experts also came up with 54 actions that could begin immediately to initiate the process of achieving goals listed under the 10 identified areas. These actions became known as “quick starts”. Examples include the construction of the Burrard Bridge bike lane, a pilot composting program, the installation of new water fountains, and urban agriculture projects. Due to these projects, there are now 20,000 green and local food jobs, which accounts for 5% of all jobs in Vancouver. The City of Vancouver has endeavoured to build a brand that is synonymous with innovation, sustainability, and quality of life, which makes it an attractive destination not only for residents, but also business headquarters. In 2016, the “green” brand was valued at $31 billion with an annual GDP growth rate of 4%. To engage the public, Vancouver Councillors organised a public hearing in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the largest venue in Vancouver, which sold out quickly to over 3,000 attendees. This public engagement was integral to gaining citizen support, and offered an opportunity for residents to provide input. To capture this input, an “ideas repository” was created to allow anyone to add their ideas and vote on the ideas put forward. The City committed to fund the top five. “These are tax dollars so why not fund things democratically?” asked Councillor Reimer. By the end of the planning procedure, 87 quick starts had been identified. In 2015, Vancouver defined its Renewable City Strategy, which aims to derive 100% of its energy from renewable sources before 2050; as of 2017, the City of Vancouver derives 31% of its energy needs from renewable resources. The City identified three important components to reach 100 % renewable energy: reducing energy use, increase the use of renewable energy, and increase renewable energy supply. The most important component is reducing the energy demand through energy efficiency, since substituting all of the energy derived from fossil fuel with renewable energy is not possible in Vancouver’s context. This reduction can be achieved by installing better insulation in buildings and increasing vehicle efficiency. Additionally, the City is looking for new fuel sources such as district energy heating from sewage. The questions from the audience touched on many different fields, including: the potential to save money by transitioning to renewable energy, the affordability of housing and homelessness, and what the transition in the transportation sector could look like. Councillor Reimer explained that the transition to renewable energy will not only be beneficial from an environmental perspective, but it will also save money for the city. Encouraging people to save energy, building housing that meets the new building codes, and increasing the use of public transportation, walking, and cycling will allow the city to be 100% renewable in 2050. It’s also an opportunity to reduce social inequalities by making energy efficiency upgrades available at a subsidized rate. The transition won’t be simple per say, but the social, environmental, and economic arguments are all in favour of a more sustainable status quo.

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Friday – Stakeholder Day Vancouver’s Story – Shortened version of the presentation made on Thursday Speaker: Councillor Andrea Reimer Number of Participants: approximately 80 Time: 10:15am – 10:45am The presentation was a shortened version of the conference’s opening presentation on Thursday – to review those notes, please refer to page 7.

Councillor Reimer opened by acknowledging some of the largest challenges the City of Vancouver faces, such as emissions from fossil fuels. She noted that using fossil fuels is an inefficient way of using our resources, and that they are a waste of money and energy. Councillor Reimer also mentioned flooding as a serious future problem, and that to rectify this the City needs a storm water management plan. From this, the greening of the city, and the protection of its infrastructure will make Vancouver a better place to live. Councillor Reimer mentioned William Durant and Henry Ford as examples of having the vision to build a new economy that was previously unimaginable. She explained that we are at a similar point now with the opportunity to lead our economy towards renewable solutions and a stable, sustainable reality. In closing, Councillor Reamer emphasized that we have the ability to own our future, and that the West Kootenay region has great potential to be renewable energy leaders. During the Q & A, Councillor Reimer was asked if the City of Vancouver accounts for the benefit received from green infrastructure as a line item in their budget, like the Town of Gibsons, BC does. Councillor Reimer replied that the City does not, partially because it does not list any line item in its budget that is less than $10,000 per year, though the City’s Urban Green Infrastructure group is considering adopting this practice.

West Kootenay Context Speakers: Fiona Galbraith and Andras Beda Number of Participants: approximately 80 Time: 10:45am – 11:15am

During the first part of the presentation, Fiona Galbraith, Co-Executive Director at the West Kootenay EcoSociety, outlined the current energy make-up in the West Kootenay. Galbraith

11 then interviewed Andras Beda, a Master’s student in Sustainable Energy Planning and Management at the University of Aalborg in Denmark, about the scenario he created for 100% renewable energy by 2050 in the West Kootenay region. Galbraith introduced the EcoSociety and its 100% Renewable Kootenays initiative, which aims to phase out fossil fuels in the West Kootenay by 2050. As part of the initiative, EcoSociety has been working to build community support for the transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050, which at the time of the conference totaled over 40 local businesses and organizations, and over 4,000 signatures from West Kootenay residents supporting the transition to renewable energy in their communities. To demonstrate the feasibility of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050, the EcoSociety had Beda model a possible future energy scenario where all consumed energy is generated from renewable resources, the first of its kind in Canada. The aim of the model was to identify the current energy usage, examine energy saving options, define the demand in 2050, and design a scenario to fulfill the energy demand of 2050 with energy developed from renewable resources. From the model, Beda developed an infographic2 which shows the current and estimated future demand of the transportation, heating and electricity sectors in the West Kootenay, and introduces a possible renewable energy mix in 2050. The infographic shows that the West Kootenay energy demand is expected to be 34% lower in 2050 than demand in 2017. These energy savings will come from the electrification of transportation and the more efficient use of electricity. Although the potential in heating saving is expected to be significant, the data was not available, so the heating saving is exempt from the model. Beda suggested that as future research is published in the field of energy savings and renewable energy generation techniques, and as more local data becomes available, the model should be updated. In the modeled future energy mix, the present-day hydroelectric generation will stay the same, and solar, biomass, and renewable natural gas production will be introduced as new renewable resources. Other renewable resources were considered, but they were excluded because the data was not available or they were not applicable in this region. For example, wind-power generation in its current iteration is not viable in the West Kootenay; however, geothermal and small-scale hydro power could likely play a role, but the lack of data prevented its inclusion. Beda discussed the biggest barriers in the renewable transition, which are the cost and the reliability of the generating renewable energy. Beda stated that although renewable energy generation is not cheap, there are examples worldwide where solar or wind energy compete with the current energy generation techniques, even without subsidies. Renewable energy generation is expected to continue to become more economical as the price of the renewable energy generating technologies is decreasing rapidly. Beda suggested that external costs need to be included when evaluating a product or technology, not just the direct investment or

12 production costs. The social costs of pollutant emissions are much more significant in case of the current energy generation techniques, therefore the additional health and environmental costs should be considered in comparison or feasibility studies. Beda noted that renewable energy generation is intermittent because power production is connected to weather phenomena like wind or sunshine. While it is true that the energy generated from intermittent technologies is not guaranteed at any one hour, day, or season, the changes in electricity production can be statistically predicted for long-range forecasts and anticipated based on current local weather patterns. A solution to mitigating this problem is to have a diverse portfolio of renewable energy generating technologies. This ensures that if one technology can’t generate energy because of the current weather phenomena, other generation technologies will be able to. This will ensure that a constant supply is available to meet the demand. Hydroelectric generation is particularly useful in this case, as dams can be turned on and off to meet demand. In closing, Beda reminded the audience that the model he designed is not the only possible renewable energy scenario, and in fact it’s likely not the best one, as it could only include information that was available as of 2015. Discussion between politicians, local experts and citizens will be required to decide which renewable energy development pathway is desirable for all, taking equally into account environmental, social, and economic factors. During the Q&A, Beda was asked about the sectors included in the study. He replied that due to lack of data, industry and air transportation were not part of the model. A comment was made indicating that it would be helpful for decision makers, municipalities and private companies to know what resources and programs are available in their areas that could be used to generate renewable energy. Beda answered that to evaluate the resource potential, provincial mapping is not enough and that local research is needed.

Breakout Exercise I: Visioning and Principles Visioning Exercise In the visioning exercise, the stakeholders were separated into groups of six to eight individuals which were guided by a facilitator. In this exercise the facilitator asked the stakeholders to draw a vision of what they thought the West Kootenay could look like in 2050 if the region were to have 100% of its energy need met from renewable sources. Once the drawings were done, each stakeholder shared their drawing with the group, and commonalities were identified between visions. The commonly identified themes, as well as some examples from each are listed below. The visions were consistently positive and stakeholders seemed to be excited about the future they could create.

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Infrastructure Upgrades: ● To municipal drinking and wastewater systems to increase their efficiency, and ● To roads so that they will include bike lanes. Transportation: ● Will be less car dependent, ● Will have good inter-community public transportation, ● Will support active transportation such as cycling and walking, and ● Will be electrified. Local Electricity Generation: ● Each community will be self-sufficient, and ● Solar and micro hydro will be utilized. Public Involvement and Consultation: ● The public will have an integral part in shaping a just transition to renewable energy sources, and ● Local expertise, capital and resources would be mobilized in the transition. Shifting Attitudes & Education: ● The public and decision makers will think differently about growth, consumption and resource exploitation, ● Resource waste and inefficiencies will be frowned upon, ● Sustainability education will be widely accessible, and ● The West Kootenay will be an area from which other communities can learn from through case studies and experimentation. Greening of the Public Realm: ● Nature and green/blue spaces will be featured more often and be more prevalently in city centers. Waste Management: ● All waste will be utilized to its fullest potential, and ● The production of waste will be reduced. Communities will be more self-sustaining: ● Community amenities will be available so that residents won’t be required to travel to access services that are only available in larger centers. Efficiencies: ● Buildings and transportation will be much more efficient than they currently are, ● Policy would be more sustainably minded, ● Building codes and emission limits from transportation will be stricter, and ● Municipal procurement will target sustainable options.

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Social Justice: ● The transition will be socially just so that all residents have their housing and food needs fulfilled. Tourism: ● The West Kootenay will be known as a region that successfully has transitioned off fossil fuels, ● The area will be more aesthetically pleasing due to the “greening” of cities, and ● Inter-community transportation will be easier for tourists who are traveling without a personal vehicle. Green jobs: ● More sustainable jobs will be available, both due to the work that will be required for the transition and because it will be a more desirable area in which to live.

Principles Exercise The second exercise was held with the same groups directly after the visioning exercise. Here the stakeholders were asked to list two values that they consider to be integral to the vision they developed in the previous exercise. Similar principles were then linked together and voted on. Among all groups, two principles stood out from the rest: the transition requires political leadership; and policy should support the vision, consider the triple bottom line and be prevalent through all levels of government. Further principles focused on ensuring that the local economy supplies the jobs required for the transition, and that the transition is inclusive and just.

Implementation and Partnership Speakers: Matt Horne and Jay Heaman Number of Participants: approximately 80 Time: 1:15pm – 2:05pm

Matt Horne is the Climate Policy Officer with the City of Vancouver and presented on the City of Vancouver’s target to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Horne said that this is the only way to mitigate the effects of climate change, and Vancouver would like to do its fair share of the work to achieve this. The first step at a City level was to create a plan, and then to prepare businesses and citizens for the shift. Horne noted that the City believes that the transition to renewable energy on a global scale will happen soon, and they want to be well 15 positioned. While making the plan, health, social, and economic factors were also considered alongside the main goal to mitigate climate change, recognizing opportunities for change and the intersectionality of the issues. Vancouver’s Renewable City Strategy provides high-level direction for how the City will achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, and is comprised of multiple plans that address specific sectors such as the Zero Emission Building Plan which looks into cost efficiency, high performance structures, and supporting case studies; the Neighborhood Energy Strategy; the Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Strategy; and the Transportation 2040 strategy, which prioritizes active transportation and public transit. Beyond the City’s energy saving strategies, the City is also looking into unused renewable resources, such as deriving energy from municipal waste. Capturing methane from landfill waste and organic waste to produce renewable natural gas can open up more economic opportunities, in addition to preventing additional methane gas leaking into the atmosphere. To realize these projects, the City recognized that partnership is an important component in the process, and they are working together with utilities, as well as provincial and federal governments. Horne extended an invitation to help other governments set renewable energy generation and conservation goals, based on his experience with the City of Vancouver. Jay Heaman is the Manager of Strategic Initiatives in Oxford County, Canada’s first rural region to draft a 100% renewable energy strategy. Heaman started his presentation by drawing similarities between Oxford County and the West Kootenay, pointing out comparable population dispersion and distances. Heaman introduced Oxford County’s Community Sustainability Plan, which was announced in 2016, to improve the quality of life for residents of Oxford County through a sustainable economy and responsible resource use. The initiative was driven primarily by the community, and politicians joined later in the process. The collaboration continues to be fruitful, as Reforest Oxford, Smart Energy Oxford, and Community Oxford initiatives were all prepared by volunteers from the community shortly after the Community Sustainability Plan was adopted. Heaman believes that outreach and partnership are crucial to environmental planning. He identified political will and strong political leadership as cardinal first steps in the process. The Mayor of Woodstock was the first to join the Renewable Oxford initiative, who helped to get other municipal leaders involved. Local leaders from Oxford County traveled to Germany for a conference on 100% Renewable Energy, where the participants were introduced to the 100% Renewable Energy Building Blocks3 framework with 12 criteria to gather information on and work from. These criteria are applicable across jurisdictions with various geographical, political, social, cultural and economic

16 conditions that provide guidance for policy makers, governments and community champions to develop their own 100% renewable energy roadmap. Oxford County has since adopted the framework, which has already been established by about 20 countries4 around the world that are part of the global 100% renewable energy movement. Oxford County also developed a draft 100% renewable energy plan to be achieved by 2050. Heaman stated that there's a need to establish an energy baseline through monitoring, create pilot projects to demonstrate how the transition can be accomplished, and to be prepared to sell the concept to people used to the status quo. He emphasized that during the transition and in the pilot projects, it is essential to monitor each project’s performance in order to see what was done right and what could be improved. Heaman finished his presentation by mentioning other projects that Oxford County is working on including an electric vehicle feasibility study, and their currently operating 18 MW wind farm. Heaman highlighted the importance of broad public engagement, including university professors, students, and companies from around the world. During the question period, Heaman mentioned that utilities can be slow to recognize both threats and opportunities. The renewable energy transition presents an opportunity to utilities because they have resources that can benefit the transition, and for this reason, Heaman believes that utilities will begin to change quickly.

Breakout Exercise II: Learning and Building All workshops were well attended, with relatively equal distribution. Political Will Speaker: Andrea Reimer Time: 2:05 pm – 3:45 pm The Political Will workshop explored the practical approaches and solutions that could be implemented in the West Kootenay to foster political will for the transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The workshop consisted of a short presentation followed by an open discussion. Councillor Reimer began by noting that it’s difficult to write a manual on “how to change”, but that the manual needs to consider the local context in order to be successful. She then outlined the 3 Ps (Public, People, & Personalities) of policy making. Councillor Reimer identified that governments can only be as good as the public (P#1) they represent; that policies

4 Visit http://www.go100percent.org/cms/index.php?id=17 to view RE projects worldwide. 17 are written by people (P#2) who need resources in order to do their job; and that people have personalities (P#3) and that in order to work with people you need to be able to relate to them. In response to a question regarding funding, Councillor Reimer pointed to the federally operated Green Municipal Fund grants money to municipalities as well as organizations working in partnership with their locale. To bring other community leaders on board, Councillor Reimer suggested framing the transition as an entrepreneurial opportunity, as there are countless secondary benefits to supporting renewable energy. The Quick Start projects in the City of Vancouver have already demonstrated the value of creating a green brand to attract businesses and inhabitants to live in a more desirable space.

Policy Speaker: Matt Horne Time: 2:05 pm – 3:45 pm

The policy workshop gave the attendees an opportunity to ask questions to the City of Vancouver’s Climate Policy Manager Matt Horne. The main questions were in regards to how municipalities and regional districts can implement the transition to 100% renewable energy from a policy perspective. The first question was about how the City of Vancouver defines their 100% Renewable Energy target. Horne’s reply was that it considers the net energy that is coming in and out of the city. It was acknowledged that Vancouver may still use some fossil fuels in its operations by 2050, but that it will be offset by Vancouver exporting energy generated from renewable resources. The second question was about the next steps that municipalities and regional districts can take to achieve the goal of 100% renewable energy use. Horne’s answer was to go for “low hanging fruit”. Examples given by Horne included engaging and educating the public on renewable energy opportunities; conducting and publicizing case studies; implementing simple policies such as allowing passive house projects to be put at the front of the queue when obtaining building permits; and setting up a database or hub where remote communities can connect, discuss the project, and share ideas.

Rural Integration and Regional Partnerships Speaker: Jay Heaman Time: 2:05 pm – 3:45 pm

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Community Support and Building Momentum Speaker: Matthew Carroll Time: 2:05 pm – 3:45 pm

Matthew Carroll, Co-Executive Director at the West Kootenay EcoSociety, presented on how the West Kootenays EcoSociety and other organizations can build support for a campaign. This is done by outlining a theory on how to achieve change (a theory of change) and why decisions are adopted by political leaders, along with tips for building a social movement. A theory of change must explain how a course of action will yield the desired results. For example, the following could explain how to influence politicians: if politicians know that the public is in favour of an initiative, then the politicians will be in favour of it as well because they would like to ensure that they are re-elected. Carroll then outlined methods in which to gain the public’s support for the initiative. These include consulting with communities to develop the process which will be used to implement the desired goal, and fostering leadership amongst the public. Carroll also suggested ways to manage negative reactions, such as ensuring that their concerns are acknowledged, and that common ground is found.

Accelerate Kootenays & Transportation Speaker: Trish Dehnel Time: 2:05 pm – 3:45 pm

The workshop on the Accelerate Kootenays program and transportation focused on the difficulties and solutions related to greening the transportation sector in the West Kootenay. Trish Dehnel, Community Relations Manager and Energy Planner with the Community Energy Association, noted that the transportation sector produces 60% of the West Kootenay GHGs, and thus there is great potential to reduce transportation's impact on the environment. Dehnel remarked that there are two points of consideration in lessening the impact of the transportation sector: public mindset, and technology. Behaviour of the population is the most impactful, and can be influenced through proper city planning as well as education. The technological side of lessening the impact of the transportation sector is much more varied. Two examples of technological change were that road shoulders could incorporate bike lanes, and that electric car charging stations need to be available to the public. Electric car charging stations are being installed through the Accelerate Kootenays Program, a collaboration formed through the RDCK, RDKB, and RDEK that began in 2016.

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Saturday – Public Day

The Story of Oxford County, Ontario Speaker: Jay Heaman Number of Participants: 150 Time: 10:15am – 11:00am

Energy Workshops I Designing for Tomorrow, Today Speaker: Lucas Armstrong Number of Participants: approximately 20 Time: 11:00am – 12:00 Lucas Armstrong is the founder of Cover Architectural Collaborative Inc. and is currently responsible for designing 50% of all passive house certified projects in Canada. Armstrong presented on the benefits of passive house design. Passive houses require a 10% increase in construction costs which is only paid off after 40 years in operation, however a passive house is more desirable for many reasons. One of the most important reasons is environmental stewardship, while others include, comfort, durability, and resale value. Features that are considered in the design of a passive house are: building energy efficient shapes, using durable materials that age well, and avoiding installing technology that is likely to become obsolete. Put simply, passive house designs prioritize needs, such as building performance, over luxury. When asked about the feasibility of renovating a heritage home to passive house standards, Armstrong replied that it is possible, but depending on the construction it can be as expensive as demolishing the structure and building from scratch.

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Sun Shining Beyond the Fossil Fuel Age Speaker: Kip Drobish Number of Participants: 25 Time: 11:00am – 12:00 Kip Drobish, owner of Oso Solar which sells and installs solar panels, has lived an off-grid lifestyle since 1993. Drobish takes into consideration his customers’ progressive values by going the extra mile to source hardware from manufactures that have ethical production methods. Drobish’s presentation focused on the past, present and future of renewable energy. He opened his presentation by comparing the cost of solar energy in 2006 at $0.35 - $0.40/kWh to the current cost of $0.07/kWh, about a fifth of the cost. The presentation then addressed the difficulties of storing energy. Drobish explained that Hawaii, Texas, and California are having difficulty storing renewable energy due to its intermittent nature, but that the West Kootenay region is in a better situation due to the fact that this area has both topography, which is essential in hydro generation, as well as sunshine. The combination of these two resources could allow our region to store renewable energy while being less reliant on other technologies such as batteries. When asked about energy storage, Drobish answered that batteries are becoming more efficient and less costly at an exponential rate.

The Invisible Fuel Speaker: Carol Suhan Number of Participants: approximately Time: 11:00am – 12:00 Carol Suhan is Fortis BC’s local Manager of Energy Conservation and Energy Management. She led a workshop on the importance and benefits of energy conservation and efficiency in our everyday lives. After identifying possible energy conservation and efficiency options for homeowners, Suhan outlined how Fortis BC is incentivising energy conservation and efficiency though their rebate programs. She noted that in the next two years, rebates from Fortis BC are predicted to double, and that the next focus for Fortis BC’s rebates program will be on improving building envelopes for previously constructed homes. 21

In summary, Suhan defined Fortis BC’s mandate was to establish an energy conservation movement by providing incentives through their rebate programs.

100% Possible: The West Kootenay’s Context Speakers: Andras Beda and Fiona Galbraith Number of Participants: approximately 70 Time: 1:00pm – 1:30pm

Energy Workshops II Making Cents of Renewable Energy Speaker: Jim Jacobsen Number of Participants: approximately 15 Time: 1:30pm - 2:30pm Jim Jacobson, a renewable energy consultant with Mesla Energy, presented on the ways that individuals, businesses and communities can reduce their energy demands and move towards net zero housing. The first step in reducing our personal energy demand, Jacobson explained, is to conserve and find energy efficiencies. To conserve energy, a number of simple options are available: wear the right clothes for the weather, close your curtains during the day to keep sunlight out, and set your thermostat. More technical options include installing a smart meter that can delay when appliances run so as to not contribute to the peak energy demand, and stopping standby power waste. After listing ways to save energy, he then enumerated the multiple ways to generate renewable energy, along with the pros and cons of each method. Afterwards, he guided the participants through a diagram of a passive solar home, and the associated technology and systems that are involved in making it energy self-sustainable. A question was asked regarding the feasibility of wind generation in the West Kootenay. Jacobson explained that the topography in our area isn’t well suited to wind generation because the area is much too mountainous.

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100% Renewable Kootenays: Organizing to Win Speakers: Matthew Carroll and Sarah Colvin Number of Participants: 15 Time: 1:30pm - 2:30pm The West Kootenay EcoSociety’s Community Organizer, Sarah Colvin, and Co-Executive Director, Matthew Carroll, outlined how grassroots campaigns can win through engagement organizing. Carroll and Colvin explained engagement organizing as taught by Organize BC, a non-profit dedicated to training and educating organizations with best practices of campaigning and organizing, and drawing upon the teachings of Marshall Ganz. Engagement organizing forms the basis of the West Kootenay EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays initiative, which was used as an example throughout the presentation. Organizing, as defined by Organize BC, “is leadership that enables people to turn the resources they have into the power they need to make the change they want.” Carroll explained that the 100% Renewable Kootenays initiative is doing exactly that – organizing motivated individuals to turn the resources they have (their voices) into the power they need (political leverage) to create the change they want (local political commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2050). Interested individuals were encouraged to join their local Renewable Kootenays team to help support the transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050 in their own community.

More Good > Less Bad Speaker: Andrew Zwicker Time: 1:30pm - 2:30pm Andrew Zwicker is a values-based entrepreneur who looks to make money while contributing to the social good. The workshop More Good > Less Bad focused on a principle of how we should conduct business in the world. Zwicker then demonstrated how this principle is reflected in his latest project: Propel Bioenergy. The principle of More Good > Less Bad is centered on the idea that we won’t be able to achieve our goal of reducing our impact on the environment if we only do less bad. For example, instead of dumping less untreated waste water, we should build an aquaponics wastewater treatment plant that could create heat and electricity while operating at ⅓ the cost of a standard treatment plant. Among Propel Bioenergy’s many projects, Zwicker focused on Drop in Liquid Fuels. Drop in Liquid Fuels is diesel produced from biomass, which is chemically identical to fossil fuel. The first project utilizing this technology was put in place in Nova Scotia where 110,000 Litres of ASTM

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Number 1 Diesel were produced per day. This is said to be a game-changing fuel which can be used to reduce our impact on the environment.

Panel Discussion: Local Action Speakers: Carmen Proctor, Trish Dehnel, and Carol Suhan Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Carmen Proctor is the Project Coordinator for Nelson Hydro’s EcoSave Program, Trish Dehnel is the Community Relations Manager and Energy Planner with the Community Energy Association, and Carol Suhan is Fortis BC’s local Manager of Energy Conservation and Energy Management. They each presented on local projects that are reducing the West Kootenay’s environmental impact. Proctor presented on the Nelson Community Solar Gardens, Dehnel on the Accelerate Kootenays project, and Suhan on Renewable Natural Gas. Proctor began by explaining her inspiration for the Nelson Community Solar Garden project, which came from similar projects in the United States. Since this is the first project of its kind in Canada, Proctor was charged with developing a local model of how the Solar Garden could be financed, managed, and operated. She developed a model whereby members of the public, who are serviced by Nelson Hydro, finance the project through their voluntary investments. For an initial investment of $925, investors are credited for the energy produced by a single panel for a 25 year period. The credit is then applied to the investor’s Nelson hydro bill. A benefit of the project is that investors don’t have to maintain their own panels or install them on their own roofs, which may not be an option if they rent. Moreover, the panels can be more efficient since an optimal location was selected. This project also develops expertise in Nelson Hydro, which can then be replicated by other utilities. Dehnel began her presentation on Accelerate Kootenays by listing the benefits of active transportation, mentioning that “nature costs less than therapy,” and that since ⅓ of people in BC live with a chronic disease, active transportation could be used to help reduce this number. Dehnel pointed out that reducing GHGs is a goal of the BC’s Climate Action charter, and that in terms of transportation, reducing the length of trips should be the first area that we address. Next steps include shifting modes of transportation, from driving to cycling for example, and making vehicles more efficient. The goal of the Accelerate Kootenays initiative is to address the lack of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The initiative also aims to increase consumer awareness/understanding of electric vehicles, as well as their availability. Suhan explained what renewable natural gas is, how much it costs, and how to get more of it online. Renewable natural gas, also known as biogas or bio-methane, is natural gas produced from various wastes such as methane from landfills, sewage, and agriculture. It currently costs 24 slightly more at $0.06/kWh, while conventional natural gas costs $0.044/kWh. When this is scaled to the average resident’s consumption of natural gas, a household would only see about a $5 per month increase in their bill if they switched to renewable natural gas. However, there is not enough supply at this moment to meet natural gas demand in BC. After the three short presentations, the audience was invited to ask questions. The first question asked, “How do we scale these projects up?” Proctor mentioned that the Nelson Community Solar Garden project was small in scale on purpose, so that the net metering model could be tested, but that a similar project in being developed in Kelowna. Dehnel responded that the Accelerate Kootenay project can be scaled up easily with demand from the public. Suhan answered that renewable natural gas could also be scaled up with public demand, although supply is not infinite. Other questions focused on the production and bi-products of renewable natural gas. Suhan replied that some renewable natural gas is produced in Salmon Arm, although the total potential production would not meet the current demand for natural gas. Bi-products include compost which could be reused on the farms that produce some of the renewable natural gas.

Next Steps for Consideration & Additional Resources West Kootenay EcoSociety is available to give presentations and to attend meetings about renewable energy and energy efficiency in our area. To book a time, let us know about an event you’re hosting, or request a presenter, please contact us. 100% RE Building Blocks The 100% RE Building Blocks document mentioned by Jay Heaman is part of the global 100% renewable energy movement. It compiles the learning from communities around the globe that have already made the commitment to transition into 12 building blocks to assist policymakers and community champions in building and implementing their own 100% renewable energy by 2050 plan. EcoSociety will be bringing this framework to its community discussions. Please use the link below to access the full document online and share widely, as it is free for distribution. https://go100re.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/100RE-Building-Blocks.pdf 100% RE Map This website lists communities, organizations, states, countries, and institutions that have committed to going 100% renewable. Application has been made to include the Village of Slocan and the City of Nelson. http://www.go100percent.org/cms/index.php?id=17

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West Kootenay Energy Modeling

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