WWEA launches Working Group on Community Power –

Decentralised investment and participation of local communities is key for utilisation of wind energy on a large scale and for effective climate change mitigation

Bonn/Toronto (WWEA) – The World Wind Energy Association has started a new working group on Community Power. The working group was launched in Toronto on the occasion of the 1st Annual OSEA Community Power Conference. Already shortly after its creation, the working group has encountered major interest from all over the world, comprising of organisations from all continents. Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association OSEA (Toronto, Canada), was appointed as coordinator of the working group.

The WWEA Community Power working group will enhance international exchange of information and experiences, act as focal point for new partnerships and finally will enable WWEA in formulating its policies with regard to community based and decentralised ownership models.

The working group will be fully dedicated towards the promotion of Community Power all over the world, bringing together those WWEA members with a special interest in Community Power development, be it as initiators and participants of such projects, as developers aiming at appropriate involvement of local communities, as financiers, scientists with a special interest in such approaches, or any other professionals with a deeper interest in community based wind power.

Stefan Gsänger, WWEA Secretary General, pointed out: "Whilst the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen seem to be stuck even before they have started, WWEA has decided to promote a bottom-up approach. The solutions for climate change mitigation – renewable energies – are there, and it is up to the people to apply them all over the world. Strong and active support from communities will be essential for the necessary and rapid switch to a renewable energy supply system worldwide. For this, it is imperative to involve local communities directly in the renewable energy deployment. Only with the broad social support, we will achieve the large-scale deployment of wind and other renewables which we urgently need to provide enough clean energy for all humans and to effectively protect our climate."

Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director of OSEA: "Ontario is an ideal starting point for such international activities. One year after OSEA hosted the World Wind Energy Conference under the theme of Community Power, the Government of Ontario has introduced a Green Energy and Economy Act comprising of feed-in tariffs for electricity from renewable energy and a special premium for community power projects. This act will be a catalyst for the uptake of renewable energy investment in our province and in Canada, mainly driven by communities within the province. We are more than happy to share our experiences with our friends and partners around the world. We need such strong international networks that enable community power groups to access resources and broaden the support for renewables."

For further information please contact:

Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director, Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
Tel. +1-416 977 4441,

Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General, World Wind Energy Association
Tel. +49-228-369 40-80, Fax +49-228-369 40-84,