2017 Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Conference
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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. 1 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. 2 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 3 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 4 30 5 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 6 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 7 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. 8 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.