Invest Responsibly, Build a Legacy.

Diversify your portfolio with community-owned renewable energy.

Invest in the energy transition

Energy generation has long been controlled by a few powerful groups. But the landscape is changing. Widely available renewable energy technologies are shifting the way communities generate and distribute electricity. More than 750 individuals throughout Ontario have committed to bring more democracy and transparency to electricity generation by investing in local renewable projects. Diversify your portfolio with the planet and bring positive change to your community.

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Electrification, Renewable Energy & Canadian Politics

by Aaron Thornell | August 30, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Electrification on the Map With Canada in the throes of (another) Federal Election, the subject of electrification, and how to achieve this at the pace necessary, is getting more attention than any previous federal campaign. Subscribers to the Globe and Mail might...

OREC April 2021 Special Members Meeting

by Aaron Thornell | March 22, 2021 | Advocacy, News | 0 Comments

Proposed Changes to OREC Bylaws and Articles The OREC Board of Directors called a Special Members Meeting on Thursday April 8th, 2021 at 7:30 PM. This meeting was held virtually over Zoom. The quorum required for Special Members Meeting is the lesser of fifteen (15)...

OREC Special Members’ Meeting

by Aaron Thornell | December 21, 2020 | News | 0 Comments

Proposed Bylaw Change As the renewable energy landscape evolves in Ontario, OREC is continuously seeking to adapt to enable community ownership of clean energy projects. In pursuit of this goal, the OREC Board of Directors has explored the acquisition and development...

OREC Unites Co-ops in Calls for COVID Stimulus to Unlock Clean, Community Investment

by Aaron Thornell | August 12, 2020 | Advocacy, News | 0 Comments

The Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative (OREC) has led an effort calling upon the Members of Parliament tasked with coordinating the COVID'19 economic stimulus plans to include a focus on community investment in clean energy. OREC, alongside its sister co-operative...

OREC 2019 Annual General Meeting

by Aaron Thornell | November 26, 2019 | News | 0 Comments

Important documents from the 2019 Annual General Meeting Minutes from 2019 AGM Full AGM slideshow Agenda Proposed Motions Annual report to members Nominating Committee report (forthcoming) FY 2019-20 Budget Audited financial statements Minutes from 2018 AGM 2019 AGM...

Call for Nominations: OREC Board of Directors for 2019-20

by Aaron Thornell | September 13, 2019 | Advocacy, News | 0 Comments

The Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative is now accepting nominations for new members of its Board of Directors. Individuals must be members of the Co-operative in order to serve on the board. The roles of board members are as follows: Regular attendance (in-person or...

OREC Project on Canadian Museum of Science & Technology Connected

by Aaron Thornell | July 26, 2019 | News, Newsletters | 0 Comments

Press Release Ottawa, ON, May 24, 2019 – Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, in partnership with the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op (OREC) is proud to announce the launch of a new community-owned 200-kW solar project. Beginning on May 24, 2019, the...

ON Government Proposing Changes With Negative Impacts for OREC, Other Co-ops

by Aaron Thornell | March 5, 2019 | Advocacy, News | 3 Comments

The Government of Ontario has proposed changes that will negatively impact the ability of OREC and other co-ops to offer investment opportunities in the future. With the Ontario government dissolving the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), co-operative...

Letter from the President: Launching CoEnergy Co-operative

by Aaron Thornell | December 19, 2018 | Advocacy, News | 3 Comments

Dear OREC members and supporters, I would like to begin by wishing you all a happy holiday season, and hope you have a healthy and productive new year. Since the incorporation of the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative in 2010, our membership has changed the way that...

Ontario Net Metering Legislation Revoked

by Aaron Thornell | November 6, 2018 | Advocacy, News | 1 Comment

In late September 2018, the Ontario Government revoked proposed legislative changes that would have helped grow the renewable energy sector in the province. Two proposed regulations under the Ontario Energy Board Act, would have allowed for third-party ownership of...

Invest in Real Assets

Our co-op’s solar projects range in size from 10 kW rural systems to larger arrays on industrial and school rooftops, to our largest projects, two 500 kW ground mount in Eastern Ontario.

All of our 21 projects are generating clean power, and earning a solid return for our members. OREC’s portfolio amounts to over 3 MW of installed capacity and is valued at over $8 Million.

View our Projects

“I have seen firsthand the hard work, boundless energy, and sincere passion that the staff and volunteers invest in achieving OREC’s important mission. This is a sound investment — for your portfolio, for our community, and for the planet.”

Josh Snider
OREC Member #133 & Investor

“I think OREC offers a brilliant opportunity for everyone to do something locally that is both profitable and environmentally responsible.”

Angela Keller-Herzog
OREC Member #167 & Investor

“For me, OREC makes the connection between key “C’s” – Community, Climate and a personal Commitment to a Clean Energy Future. OREC facilitates me “being in community” with others in Ottawa, gaining a fair return on our personal capital while protecting the Planet.
Feels right, feels good.”

Chris Henderson
OREC Member #7 & Investor

“I’ve been a proud OREC member for as long as I can remember. Community renewable energy development is where climate action and local democracy join hands. That’s why Ottawa needs OREC.”

Mitchell Beer
OREC Member #68 & Investor

“From the beginning, the potential of OREC was clear. With community owned power production, the local economic benefits are three times that of absentee owned systems. Community owned, decentralized power production not only stabilizes the grid but reinforces energy democracy (or the ability to choose power sources, systems and profit use). Not only do I get a return on my investment but I also get to advance Canada’s energy transition. Be the change, invest in OREC.”

Kim Scott
OREC Member #29 & Investor

“It was great to find an organization in my own backyard that is developing renewable energy projects with community capital. OREC is an innovative way for individuals to get involved in the renewable energy transition.”

Jean-Michel Lemieux
OREC Member #672 & Investor

“I’ve been invested in OREC since the first public offering. I was so excited to finally have a formal, institutionalized option to invest in something local that is so aligned with a sustainable future. The dedication to making it work on all levels – financial, technical, governance – was and remains outstanding. I wish there was an OREC for sectors like affordable housing, for child-care facilities, for local food storage infrastructure.”

Rebecca Aird
OREC Member #58 & Investor

“OREC is a microcosm of what’s good in the world! A local community of smart, passionate and dedicated folks trying to do their part to address the climate crisis in both tangible and meaningful ways – by investing in and building solar arrays.”

Ken Johnson
OREC Member #77 & Investor

Invest with an Impact

As a growing co-operative, OREC strives to play a positive role in Eastern Ontario’s increasingly clean and locally-financed energy landscape. Our 2017 Community Impact Report outlines the social, environmental, and economic benefits made possible through investment in the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative’s community-owned renewable energy projects.

View our Community Impact

Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-op

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