We know we need to build low-carbon power projects. And while finding the funding may seem daunting, the answer may be more local than we think.
1. Wintergreen
A solar array outside Kingston, Ontario, that can power 100 homes, Wintergreen is run by Canada’s leading renewable-energy cooperative, SolarShare.
- Raised: nearly $80 million across SolarShare’s 51-project portfolio (to confirm)
- Investors: 2,000+ co-op members
- Term: 5-year and 15-year bonds
- Interest: 5% and 6% when Wintergreen was built; up to 4% now
- Minimum: $1,000
2. ZooShare
ZooShare* turns organic animal waste and food waste into electricity for Ontario’s grid, with financial backing from 800 cooperative members who purchased community bonds.
- Raised: more than $7 million
- Investors: 800+ co-op members
- Term: 7 years
- Interest: 7% a year (later series paid 5% to 5.5%)
- Minimum: not published
* Following a 2023 member vote, ZooShare stopped interest payments and will repay bonds when cash permits.
3. EcoCharge
EcoCharge is the first EV-charging community bond campaign of its kind. Through it, its members own roughly 100 charging stations across Quebec and New Brunswick.
- Raised: about $1.1 million (target was $2 million)
- Investors: roughly 130
- Term: 5-year and 7-year options
- Interest: 3.5% for 5 years, 4% for 7 years
- Minimum: $1,000
4. Propolis
Propolis raised $1 million in community bonds from about 100 investors to build a 53-unit affordable and net-zero apartment building in Kamloops, B.C.
- Raised: $1.1 million
- Investors: about 100 (to confirm)
- Term: three options (exact terms to confirm on their bond page)
- Interest: 2.5% up to 3.5%, depending on option
- Minimum: $1,000
5. Faithfully Green
The Faithfully Green Fund helps faith communities fund green retrofits by selling community bonds and lending the money to temples, churches and mosques on a revolving basis.
- Raised: about $640,000 toward a $1-million target (to confirm, likely dated)
- Investors: listed as 7 (early snapshot, to confirm)
- Term: not published (to confirm)
- Interest: not published (to confirm)
- Minimum: not published (to confirm)
6. Wascana
This Regina, Saskatchewan, cooperative is responsible for installing 400 solar panels in the city. Its installations are collectively owned by about 100 members, typically apartment-dwellers who can’t install solar themselves.
- Raised: about $500,000 targeted for the current share offering; Conexus-specific amount not published
- Investors: about 39 on the Conexus project; roughly 100 members overall
- Term: preferred shares, no fixed term
- Interest: paid as a dividend; rate not published
- Minimum: $1,000 per share
7. WindShare
The cooperative runs a wind turbine co-owned by 825 Toronto residents and Toronto Hydro. WindShare was the first Canadian example of local residents owning a clean energy project.
- Raised: $800,000 from the community
- Investors: about 425 founding members, average investment around $2,000
- Term: co-op shares, no fixed term
- Interest: paid as member dividends from the turbine’s power; rate not published
- Minimum: $500
8. OREC
Founded in 2010, this cooperative partly owns two Lake Huron wind turbines that generate roughly 3.3 million kWh annually, enough electricity for more than 400 homes each year.
- Raised: more than $15 million across the portfolio
- Investors: 1,000+ members
- Term: 5-year investment notes, plus 20-year preference shares
- Interest: 3% to 4%
- Minimum: $100 membership share; investment minimum beyond that not published
Yashvi Shah is a writer and editor in Toronto.
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