From Coast to Coast: Uniting Canada’s Community Energy Co-ops

Canada’s Emerging Community Energy Alliance

An industry update by Dennis O'Farrell, OREC member and CECC Vice-President

Participants at CECC's Annual General Meeting in Victoria, August 2025.

OREC is a member of Community Energy Co‑operative Canada (CECC), the national network for renewable energy co‑ops. As an OREC member and Vice-President of CECC, I’m excited to give you a quick rundown of what’s been happening with the broader community‑energy movement in Canada that OREC is a part of. Lots of progress, new faces, and some big funding wins—so let’s dive in!

What's 'CECC'??

Back in May 2023, the “Scaling Up the Impact of Renewable Energy Co‑operatives in Canada” summit was held in Ottawa. It was a pivotal moment: leaders from renewable energy co‑ops (RECs) across the country gathered, talked about scaling our impact, and agreed to form a national “REC league.” That idea sparked the creation of Community Energy Co‑operative Canada (CECC).

Where We’re At

Fast forward to today—CECC is still fresh (officially incorporated in November 2023), but we’ve

already hit several milestones:

• Held two major Community Energy Forums (Halifax 2024, Victoria 2025)

• Secured two major federal funding awards, each worth roughly $500K over three years

• Hired a full‑time staff member

I joined the CECC board in October 2023 as OREC’s representative and became vice-president at the 2025 AGM. Martin Boucher, sustainability professor at NorQuest College, serves as founding president. CECC now has 11 registered REC members and 81 supporter members—and membership keeps growing. Any OREC member can join as a supporter!

Forums & Learning

Our national forums are bringing together co-op leaders, policy experts, and international guests to share stories and strategies. Reports from Halifax and Victoria are coming soon, and the next forum is tentatively planned for Montreal in summer 2026.

CECC chapters are forming in Ontario and Alberta, with more provinces to follow. These local chapters will coordinate provincial advocacy and collaborate on ways to optimize common operations.

Funding Wins & Projects

Thanks to efforts from myself and Roger Peters, CECC landed two major federal projects:

1. Renewable Energy Co‑operative Enhancement Initiative (RECEI) – Environment & Climate Change Canada Focus: Networking, learning, and collaboration for Canada’s REC sector. We secured funding through the Low‑Carbon Economy Fund’s Implementation Readiness stream. Projects include a yearly forum, mentorship program, national case-study library, workshops, and a central information hub.

Item	What It Looks Like
Yearly Cooperative Energy Forum	A national gathering
Mentorship Program	Pairing seasoned co-ops with emerging groups
National REC Case Study Library	A searchable collection of success stories
Academic-led Workshops & Seminars	Deep-dive sessions on policy, technology, finance, etc.
Information Hub Development	A central online portal for resources

We hired Jodi Conuel as Manager & RECEI Project Lead and already have a couple of cool initiatives underway:

• Solar Operations Discussion Group – Ongoing mentorship chats for solar co‑ops.

• Powering Change: Cooperatives & Renewable Energy – An event where the Saskatchewan Solar Cooperative celebrated its 10‑year anniversary and talks about turning Canada into a world energy superpower.

2. Regulatory Innovation for Co‑operative Ownership (RICO) – Natural Resources Canada Focus: Address regulatory barriers to community-owned energy. Work includes international comparisons, provincial/territorial policy reviews, and seven regional workshops with policymakers, utilities, and communities. CECC will host Ontario's regional workshop in Toronto in March 2026.

Looking Ahead

Federal funding is a major boost, but it’s time-limited. CECC currently has no membership fees, which keeps participation open—but the organization is exploring sustainable funding options, partnerships, and sponsorships. Members’ ideas are always welcome.

Get Involved

CECC’s 12-member board now has three open committees: Membership & Communications, AGM/Forum Planning, and Policy & Advocacy. If you’re interested in volunteering, join CECC and let us know how you’d like to help.

There’s a lot happening in Canada’s community energy movement, and OREC is proud to be part of it. Let’s keep building a stronger, local, and sustainable energy future together!