Community Power: Case Studies from Around the World
Middelgrunden (Denmark) - A cooperatively-owned offshore wind power park that is stronger than ever after nine years.
Bioenergie Mureck (Germany) - Three companies constitute the "Mureck Energy Cycle" and supply the entire Mureck region with electricity, heat and fuel.
WindShare (Canada) - The first urban turbine in North America is in Toronto and is owned by individuals and the local power utility.
Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative (TREC) (Canada) - TREC builds community-based and owned renewable energy projects and provides education about renewable energy, energy efficiency/conservation and the community power model.
Pukwis Community Wind Park (Canada) - This 20 MW community wind project will be the first in Canada to be jointly owned by a First Nation and a local cooperative.
Hepburn Wind Coop (Australia) - Hepburn Wind will be the owner and operator of Australia's first community-owned wind farm.
Windfang (Germany) - This wind energy coop is owned entirely by women. (Note: The website is available in German only.)
Community Power: Industry Associations
Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA)
OSEA is a province-wide, member-based, non-profit organization representing more than 1,500 people, including private individuals, cooperatives, farmers, First Nations, businesses, institutions and municipalities – all engaged in or supporting community power projects and renewable energy.
Windustry
A US-based organization, Windustry promotes progressive renewable energy solutions and empowers communities to develop and own wind energy as an environmentally sustainable asset.
Community Power Research
From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (US) : Economic Development Impacts of Community Wind Projects: A Review and Empirical Evaluation
How community wind projects are shown to have increased local economic impact both during the construction and operations period of a wind power development.
From the Iowa Policy Project (US) : Small Packages, Big Benefits: Economic Advantages of Local Wind Projects
The economic advantages of community wind, including more money staying in the community instead of being exported, increased local economic diversity, direct income for community members, and increased local jobs.
From the Sustainable Technologies Program (UK) : Harnessing Community Energies
This research program looked at case studies of community power in the UK and found that almost all community power projects achieved a good general local acceptance and had a positive impact on peoples' understanding and support for renewable energy.
From the University of Manchester (UK) : Reconsidering Public Attitudes and Public Acceptance of Renewable Energy Technologies
A review of studies focused on public acceptance of renewable energy technologies, including evidence that greater involvement in the setting up, ownership and financial framework of a project results in greater public acceptance.
From the Renewables Advisory Board (UK) : Community Benefits from Wind Power
The Renewables Advisory Board is an independent, non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change. This study assesses the evidence base for the scale and nature of community benefits being offered in the UK as part of wind development.
From the Renewables Advisory Board (UK) : Delivering community benefits from wind energy development
Why community benefits should be considered and describes different methods for offering community benefits.
From the Energy Foundation and 25x25 (US) : Community Wind 101: a Primer for Policymakers
A review of studies on community wind that provides information about community wind's economic benefits, technical issues and various policy structures.
From the Energy Trust of Oregon (US) : A Comparative Analysis of Community Wind Power Development Options in Oregon
Extensive information on the history of community wind, financial analysis modelling and potential ownership structures.
From the Department of Energy (US) : The Jobs Connection: Energy Use and Local Economic Development
The increased economic impact of energy dollars spent locally.
From the Canadian Co-operative Association : Wind energy cooperative development in Anglophone Canada
A survey of cooperative wind energy developments that exist in Anglophone Canada.
From the University of Moncton (New Brunswick, Canada): A Community Wind Energy Program for New Brunswick
This document presents a series of recommendations for a Community Wind Energy Program for the province of New Brunswick.
From the Vermont Biofuels Association (US): Community Supported Energy Offers a Third Way
The myriad benefits of community supported energy.
Next Page: Project Development Resources