Feeling Helpless to the Whims of a Big Oil President? Break the Dependency.
- John Kirkwood
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
The headlines currently coming out of the conflict in Iran are harrowing. Between the humanitarian toll and the global instability, it’s natural to feel a sense of profound powerlessness. Watching images of burning refineries and escalating tensions, many of us feel like small gears in a massive, oil-dependent machine that we cannot control.
At OREC, we aren’t an organization that wallows in woe. We are dedicated to taking concrete, local action. We believe the best way to address global energy anxiety is to build the alternative ourselves. Much of the geopolitical leverage in the Middle East is fueled by a systemic dependency on fossil fuels; by choosing a different path, we reclaim our agency.
1. Build Energy Independence in Ontario
Investing in OREC is a direct way to shift the balance of power. By pooling our resources to build distributed renewable energy right here in Ontario, we achieve three critical goals:
Independence from Big Oil: We reduce our exposure to the volatile global markets that fuel international conflict.
Community Profits: Instead of wealth leaving the country, the returns on our clean energy projects stay with our members.
Local Impact: You aren't just "investing"; you are an owner of solar assets that provide stability to our own province and energy resilience for you and your neighbours.
(Note: While our next annual capital raise offering is in development—supported by our search for a new Business Development Manager to find our next decade of projects—you can join OREC today and invest through our new Share Transfer Market. It’s a simple, secure way to purchase OREC shares directly from other members—a feature few other co-ops offer. For new shares, be sure you're signed up to the OREC Flash Newsletter to be the first to know when our next offering is released.)
2. Take Control of Your Commute
If the sight of a burning refinery makes you feel vulnerable to global energy spikes, and if you need more than local transit, the best defense is to opt out of that volatility entirely.
The Switch: Moving to an electric vehicle (EV) removes the "oil stress" from your daily life.
The Cost: Under Ontario’s Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) rates, charging an average EV (50 kWh) costs less than $2.50. That's currently 35 times cheaper than filling up the average gas car in Ontario!
The Freedom: You transition from a consumer of a volatile and dirty global commodity to a stable, domestic, clean energy alternative.
3. Immediate Action: Supporting Those Caught in the Crossfire
While we work on long-term energy independence, the humanitarian cost of conflict is immediate. If you are looking for ways to provide direct aid to those affected by war or families here in Ontario, consider these organizations:
The Humanitarian Coalition: A group of leading Canadian aid agencies providing emergency food, water, and healthcare in conflict zones.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Delivering medical supplies and emergency relief directly to those in need.
Iranian Women’s Organization of Ontario (IWOO): Dedicated to improving the lives of Iranian women and families in Ontario through settlement services and community integration.
Find a food bank in Ontario: For those looking to help close to home, donate to your local food bank to help families handle rising energy and fuel costs which put unprecedented pressure on household grocery budgets.
Powering the Future Together
It is easy to feel like a passenger during a global crisis. But we have a choice. We can move from a place of helplessness to a place of empowerment. Every time we choose to invest in our community and divest our daily lives from the oil sector, we contribute to a healthier and more resilient world.
John Kirkwood President, OREC (n.b. This is my title at OREC, and definitely not a political endorsement!)
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