The Story of Environmental Action Bobcaygeon
May 18, 2010
Our activities began in May of 2007 when the committee of Trinity United Church members focused on the power saving advantages of the new C.F.L. This action led to the presentation of this new kind of lighting at a booth at the Bobcaygeon Agricultural Fair in September. We were assisted in this by Stephen Collette and Pete Czeraky and Hom
e Hardware help with display items for the booth. The Ontario Power Authority supplied free information that “Every Kilowatt Counts” and that conservation is the cheapest way to save power and show we care about God’s world. The publicity we received and the interest in using $2.00 off coupons led to many purchases of the new low wattage light bulbs. With the help of Stephen Collette the regional representative of “Faith and the Common Good” we were introduced to “Program Porchlight” of Ottawa. light bulb, a fridge magnet, a money saving coupon and information on conservation. David Reeve, chairperson of our Committee, asked for 2,500 of these to be delivered locally. They arrived to press covered fanfare at the Gateway Plaza with M.P.P. Laurie Scott, Council members and many of the forty volunteers ready to deliver a CFL light bulb package to each household in the Bobcaygeon and K0M 1A0 postal area. This was accomplished on Saturday, November 3rd by a joyful group each carrying large green packs and the distribution took place. Project Porchlight later declared that this was the largest single day distribution of the power saving light bulbs in their three year active program. Later still David Reeve was presented at Kawartha Lakes Council the “Environmental Hero of the Year Award” for 2007 which he attributed to the splendid work of the Committee and many volunteers. Hydro Electric Power Generation
Following on work begun by Ruth Gibson the Environmental Action Committee next focused on the possible re-activation of hydro generation that earlier existed until 1948 at Little Bob Channel Dam. The stated intention was to “add to the supply” of renewable “green power” to the Ontario electrical grid and reduce the need for polluting fossil fuel electrical production. To accomplish this, the Committee sought out a business partner. Gemini Power Corporation of 4 King St. West, Toronto, which had a proven record of building state of the art hydro generation developments, was chosen, after careful enquiry and information given at subsequent meetings open to the public. With letters of support for our endeavour from M.P. Barry Devolin, (M.P.P), Laurie Scott (M.P) and Mayor Ric Mc Gee and the approval of an Advisory Panel composed of Bobcaygeon business people; namely, Jack Bingleman, Jeff Crowe, Al Ingram, Ian Kennedy, Paul Pankhurst, Gary Poole, Nadine Webster and Lloyd Wicks, the Committee proceeded with Incorporation as a not-for-profit community organization. This work was completed by December of 2008. A Board of Directors composed of President; David Reeve, Vice President; Brett Jermyn, Secretary; Sue Zilke Ward, Treasurer; Graham Keevill, Public Relations; Jay Poole, Communications; Maicey Benjamin. With these an active Members Committee consisting of Neil Booker, John Carson, Jim Clifford, Councillor Pat Warren, Ruth Gibson, Charlie Gibson, Jim Schultz, Patrick Ward along with Johan Hampel, John Dair and Vern Walborn the work continues. With a signed Memorandum of understanding with Gemini Power Corp. we were now in a position to bid on any proposal put forward by the Trent Severn Waterway System and Parks Canada. Gemini Power has the ability to finance and build a power producing facility which would develop some 750 kWh to be added as reliable clean energy to the Ontario grid. The cost of construction and facility equipment would be paid for by the 11.2 cents per kilowatt over a period of about twenty years. After this time the power generation facility would become the property of Environmental Action Bobcaygeon Inc. and revenues gained would be used for community development in Bobcaygeon and surrounding area. At present we await for a “Call for Proposals” from Trent Severn Waterway, which we understand will be forthcoming in about twelve months time. During this extended waiting period we developed a program for conservation and energy efficiency for Churches in co-operation with Peterborough Green Up. With the title “Greening Sacred Spaces” we sent out an invitation to 48 churches of all denominations in the C.K.L. to an Information Seminar at the Bobcaygeon Municipal Centre. Twenty-one congregations responded and learned of an offer by the Hydro One of their Power Saving Blitz and free low wattage lighting installed up to $1,000.00. Both Knox Presbyterian and Trinity United in Bobcaygeon took advantage of this and other churches formed “green teams”. Also during 2009 new began to promote the idea of having a local Farmer’s Market somewhere in our community. On enquiry with other groups of their interest, we delegated our Communications Director, Maicey Benjamin to call a first meeting with the purpose of forming a Steering Committee. To this meeting David Reeve invited representatives of the Haliburton Farmer’s Market and their story of success the year before encouraged the genuine interest of our Bobcaygeon participants. The Bobcaygeon Farmer’s Market at our Fair Grounds this summer as the result of the work of a very active steering committee headed up by Maicey Benjamin is about to become a reality. At present we are focusing on the potential of solar panels. With the guidance of Tim Burke of Evergreen Power Ltd. of Lindsay, we seek the opportunity to place a ten kilowatt solar panel installation on a large flat roof nearby. Our work is ongoing and the interest level of our group remains high. We would welcome new members who are interested in environmental projects to join with us. If interested please contact David Reeve at 705-738-2029.
