The Wawa Energy Plan Experience

PRESENTED TO : B IOHEAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR REMOTE AN D RUR AL COMMUNITIES WORKSHOP

PRESENTED BY: EMILY CORMIER, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF WAWA

OCTOBER 21 , 2016 , T IMMINS, ONTARIO

Presentation Overview

Background on Wawa

Wawa CEP Drivers

The Wawa Energy Plan

(An Overview)

Bioenergy in CEP

CEP Lessons Learned

Closing Remarks

Where is Wawa? Small community in Northern, ON

2011 Population: 2,975

225 km North of Sault Ste. Marie

Major business sectors: Gold Mining All Season Tourism Regional Service Centre Rentech

Famous Landmark: Wawa Goose!

“Businesses can’t grow, make improvements, investments or hire new workers because of the increasing [electricity] rates, which are among the highest in the country and expected to continue to rise over the next 20 years”

Sources: Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved from: http://www.occ.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Empowering-Ontario.pdf Ontario Ministry of Ennery. Long-Term Energy Plan, 2010.

A Call to Action

Third Highest Electricity Rates in the Province

Residents use 3x more water than the average Canadian

Grid Constraints

No Natural Gas Access Located in the heart of the Boreal Forest

Declining Economy

Priority in Wawa Strategic Plan

Local Champion Support MOE MEP Funding

Project Funding and Partnerships

Project Timeline

Stakeholder Consultations

Baseline Energy Study

Energy Plan Development

Oct 2014 – Jan 2015 Feb 2015 – July 2015 Aug 2015 – Jan 2016

Stage 1: Stakeholder Consultations

GOALS:

Identify Energy opportunities and challenges in Wawa

Included:

1-on-1 Consultations

Multiple Surveys

Brainstorm Sessions

Guest Speakers

Education Initiatives

Workshops

Presentations

Information Displays

Site Tours

Wawa Green Days

425 Days 126 Events 3 Reports

Stage 2: Baseline Energy Study and Maps

GOALS:

Measure how and where electrical energy is used in Wawa

Used the Wawa Municipal GIS Department

Signed an Agreement with Algoma Power Inc. to obtain electrical consumption data (2 years)

Identified Electrical Energy Hotspots

ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION INCREASED 14% IN WAWA IN 2014.

Lady Dunn Hospital, Wawa, ON Broadway Avenue, Wawa, ON Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre Wawa, ON

Town Hall, Wawa, ON

Water Treatment Plant, Wawa, ON

Phase 3: Energy Plan Roadmap VISION:

Wawa, a Sustainable Community, Powered by People.

GOAL:

Through community education and energy savings programs provided by the Municipality of Wawa and its partners, Wawa will decrease its energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. By 2025, Wawa will achieve a per capita reduction of:

10% of its electricity use,

25% of its municipal water use, and

25% of its waste production through an affordable recycling and composting program.

Action Plan Overview

EDUCATION AND

AWARENESS

BREAKDOWN:

Action Items: 48

Timeframe: Short, Medium, Long-Term

Leads / Partners

Performance Indicators

Alignment Northern Ontario Growth Plan

Ontario Climate Change Discussion Paper

Municipal / Local Plans

And More!

Action Plan Priorities TOP 10 ACTIONS FOR 2016

COMMITMENT OF COUNCIL

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

PROVINCIAL RECOGNITION

LOCAL CHAMPION

ONTARIO TRILLIUM FUND GRANT $220,000

Identify priority actions to maintain buy in and momentum through small wins

Update: Wawa Energy Plan $220,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (2 Years)

Project Goals:

Lower electrical energy consumption and save money.

Reduce waste at landfill and increase recycling opportunities.

Decrease water consumption and preserve water quality.

Completion of Energy Plan and Project Deliverables Underway

Project starts at the grassroots and moves forward with more capital intensive deliverables

Action Item include working with the MNRF, SFLs and eSFLs to determine feasibility of regional biomass opportunities

Biomass Business Opportunities

1. Starts with a Fibre Supply and Inventory

2.Develop a Business Plan

3. Secure Financing

Source: Cormier, R. President, R&B Cormier Inc. http://www.rbcormier.com

Motivation for Biomass in the Wawa CEP

OPPORTUNITIES:

Promotion of high efficiency biomass heat equipment will encourage adoption and reduce costs (economies of scale) Bioenergy is

NOT new

Location, Location, Location!

Potential Economic

Development

Medium to Long Term Solution

DO NOT let grid constraints discourage you!

BARRIERS Legislation Capital Costs Wood Supply Access

Lack of Awareness Resistance to Change Grid Constraints

Biomass in Your CEP

Wood is an accessible fuel alternative that is cheaper with lower emissions

Outreach to improve understanding of town biomass heating options

Leverage energy mapping to identify hotspots and project sites

Source: Campbell, Karry Anne, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Retrieved from: Bioenergy in Your Community.

Wawa Energy Plan Lessons Learned

No Standard Template

Pre-Planning and Research – No Need To Reinvent The Wheel

Transportation Data (Independently Owned Gas Stations, Propane & Fuel Oil for Home Heating – Lack of Willingness and Data Sharing)

Energy Mapping - Privacy Electric Data and Only Two-Years Available

Time Consuming Process – Need to ensure municipal involvement/project management

Stakeholder Buy-In and Support Are Critical!

Other CEP Funding Options

Canada Gas Tax Fund

Federation of Canadian

Municipalities - Green Municipal Fund, Partners

Climate Protection

Northern Ontario Heritage

Fund Corporation,

FedNor

Aboriginal Community Energy Plan Partnership

(IESO)

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Other Resources QUEST – Energy Primer

BC Community Energy Association

Must haves for Biomass in CEP

Involve the MNRF in your committee (Ralph Spaans)

Involve representatives from Forest Sector (local pellet distributor, industrial producers, small business)

Include First Nations (Michipicoten First Nation) and Regional Groups (Regional Mayors Group)

Build awareness about the use of local wood products

BIOMASS CHAMPION!

Closing Remarks

ALIGNMENT

LEVERAGE PLAN FOR

NEW PROJECTS PARTNERSHIPS

BUILDING BLOCKS

Maximize your resources to ensure higher likelihood of project implementation

Sources: Kotter, J, Our Icerberg is Melting (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005. Sandberg, S. (2013). Lean In. London: Ten Speed Press, 2015.

“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change”

Sheryl Sandberg (COO Facebook)

GREAT READ!

THANK YOU. EMILY CORMIER, ENERGY PROJECT MANAGER

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF WAWA

PHONE: 705.856.4419

EMAIL: ECORMIER@EDCWAWA.CA

To read the Wawa Energy Plan visit www.wawa.cc or www.edcwawa.ca