SUMMER 2013 THE BULLFROG IN THIS ISSUE Bullfrog customers are advancing solar energy | p.6 A conversation with TD’s Karen Clarke-Whistler | p.5 Buzz Green recipes: Delicious Maritime Blueberry Grunt | p.15 Bullfrog sits down with BRUCE CROXON Entrepreneur, digital investor, Dragon and Bullfrog Founders Club member >P3 A Spotlight On: PROVIDENCE BAY WIND FARM The Providence Bay Wind Farm is one of several renewable energy projects helping meet the demands of Bullfrog customers. Located on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, the farm consists of two Enercon E48 800 kW turbines. The project was commissioned in 2007 by Schneider Power, in partnership with Bullfrog Power. Did you know? Wind power generated by the farm reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2,100 tonnes per year Through a 20-year power purchase agreement between Schneider Power and Bullfrog, all the power produced by the new turbines will be supplied to the Ontario grid on behalf of Bullfrog’s customers 2 | THE BULLFROG BUZZ celebrity profile Bullfrog sits down with BRUCE CROXON Entrepreneur, digital investor, Dragon and Bullfrog Founders Club member ou know him for his investment Your support for green energy and Why did you create the technology acumen and the warmhearted work on the Trans Canada Trail investment firm, Round13 Capital, presence he brings to one of demonstrate a deep commitment to and what do you hope to achieve Y protecting the environment. Where through the organization? Canada’s favourite shows, CBC’s Dragons’ does this passion come from? Den. But did you know he’s also one of I created Round13 to address the dearth of early-stage financing for Canadian the original founders of Lavalife? I’ve always loved the outdoors. Some of my most fulfilling experiences have technology companies. Without capital In addition to attending to the duties of involved me being deeply embedded in for good ideas, we will not be able to a Dragon, Bruce Croxon currently runs nature. The thought of our space being innovate. I am a big believer in what “net Round13 Capital, a capital venture firm eroded troubles me and inspires me to new” can do for our country’s economy and well being. dedicated to incubating digital start-up take action. companies. What is your most memorable Why did you decide to support moment from Dragons’ Den? Rooted deeply in Croxon is a sense of green energy? caring and responsibility toward society We have had some amazing kids’ I don’t mind paying a bit more to and the environment. To this end, he sits presentations and I have been blown help seed alternative forms of cleaner on the Board of the Trans Canada Trail, away by how sophisticated our young power. By helping to develop green volunteers with Anaphylaxis Canada and is people are with respect to business and energy sources, I believe we can make a a proud bullfrogpowered homeowner. entrepreneurship. Some of these kids significant impact on our future. are as young as 9 and 10—and they Bullfrog recently sat down with Croxon know so much more than I did at that to discuss his environmentalism, Dragons’ Can you tell me about other causes age. The show has given me tremendous you believe in and are helping to Den, his venture firm and his thoughts on confidence in the future of our country. advance? the future. I volunteer with Anaphylaxis Canada, If you could give one message to all helping to advance food allergy education Canadians about the environment, what would it be? in Canada. This organization advocates for Canadians who experience severe types of Please help take care of it. I believe in the allergic reactions. power of science and technology as much as anyone, but why test its limits? There is I’m also a board member on the Trans too much damage being done and it’s up Canada Trail, a Canadian network of to everyone to help fix it. trails that will eventually stretch to the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans and link > brucecroxon.com thousands of Canadian communities. > round13capital.com THE BULLFROG BUZZ | 3 “Our focus on reducing the emissions footprint of our branches eventually changed the way we design, build and operate our facilities.” Karen Clarke-Whistler, Chief Environment Officer, TD Bank Group TD Green Energy Park London, Ontario frogs out front A conversation with TD’s Karen Clarke-Whistler Chief Environment Officer at TD Bank Group TD Bank Group is among the longest-standing members of the bullfrogpowered community. From ATMs and in-branch digital displays bullfrogpowered, to introducing net-zero energy branches to the annual TD Tree Days, supported by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, TD, with its customers and employees, has been making a difference for the environment. As TD’s Chief Environment Officer, Karen lending operations that green energy is not Clarke-Whistler helps mold and develop the something to be afraid of. We’ve been able organization’s environmental strategy and to enhance green energy financing and direct its initiatives. In a recent interview development of new green products.” at the TD Centre in Toronto, Bullfrog Offering green product options: spoke with Clarke-Whistler about TD’s “Once we understood the dynamics of environmental efforts and how supporting green energy, we could assess its risks and TD Friends of the Environment clean, renewable energy fits into TD’s opportunities, and export that knowledge Foundation wants your grant environmental strategy. to our product and financing side. Doing so applications for energy projects allowed us to greatly increase our financing Clarke-Whistler described how this strategy Did you know that TD Friends is based on four pillars of action: reducing of renewables and create some innovative of the Environment Foundation the organization’s operational footprint; products.” (TD FEF) provides funding grants responsible financing; offering green Engaging employees and communities: to environmental projects? Since 1990, TD FEF has provided over product options; and engaging employees Staff members have been an invaluable $60 million in support to more and communities on environmental action. resource to TD’s sustainable operations, says than 21,000 environmental According to Clarke-Whistler, green energy Clarke-Whistler. “Our employees come up projects and programs across plays a vital role in each: with great ideas every day on how they can Canada. reduce our energy use. Both customers and Reducing TD’s operational footprint: TD FEF wants to offer more grants Energy consumption—where it comes employees have been very supportive of our for energy-related projects and leadership position on the environment and from and how much is used—was a that’s where you come in! very supportive of renewable energy.” significant consideration in TD’s goal to Any charitable organization, be carbon neutral. “Our focus on reducing To businesses looking to implement school, municipality or Aboriginal the emissions footprint of our branches sustainability in their own operations, group can apply for a TD FEF eventually changed the way we design, Clarke-Whistler suggests focusing on actions grant. TD FEF grants can be build and operate our facilities,” Clarke- that have meaning and relevance in your used for projects that educate people about energy-related Whistler says. In addition to reducing its business. “If you pick issues that are clearly environmental issues, such as the relevant to your business, it’s not difficult to operational impact by choosing Bullfrog importance of renewable energy, Power for 29 branches, TD has demonstrated explain the business case and value. or for projects that help conserve its commitment to reducing its energy “People will see how it will add value to energy. Both types of projects consumption through its first net-zero the business. Pick something that your play an important part in moving energy branches, which aim to generate as employees can deliver and is consistent with Canada closer to a clean energy future. much energy as they use. your culture. Listen to and engage with your The next deadline for applications Responsible financing: “By understanding employees.” is November 15, 2013. To learn how green energy works, we were also more about what groups qualify able to de-risk green energy financing by and to fill out a grant application knowing its risks and opportunities,” Clarke- To watch the full video interview with online, please visit tdfef.com/ Whistler continues. “We can explain to our Karen Clarke-Whistler, visit bullfrogpower.com/td funding. THE BULLFROG BUZZ | 5 Bullfrog customers are advancing solar energy we reported that Bullfrog is partnering with SolarShare, a Last year, not-for-profit renewable energy co-operative, to bring more solar energy to the Ontario electricity system. Our support provides financing to get the co-op through the construction and development phases of new projects, which are the phases that present the most risk. Once a project is up and running, SolarShare enables community members to invest in the projects, offering the public a low risk way to become investors in renewable energy. SolarShare is making great progress, with several innovative solar projects underway. Over the long winter of scarce sunshine, its Ontario Street Project in St. Catharines, which was just launched in December when we announced our partnership, produced more than 17,000 kWh of clean electricity for the grid. The 572-panel solar array, a 140 kW system, sits on a previously unused commercial rooftop. SolarShare’s new development, the Goodmark Project, is currently under construction and will be the first community-based solar project in Toronto. Sitting atop an 18,000-square-foot rooftop in Etobicoke, the project will have a total system capacity of 134 kW—enough energy to power about 150 homes a year.