Brockville Climate Action Group

The Community Power Fund intends to provide a number of financing instruments to support community power, including grants, loans and investment equity. To begin, the Fund will use the $3 million in seed money contributed by the Government of Ontario to disburse two rounds of grants, one in 2007, the second in 2008.

The Brighton Independent / Eoin Callan / 28 February 2008

When Don Quixote described windmills as “monstrous giants” and pledged to wage “righteous warfare” against them four centuries ago, it was intended to be seen as a preposterous literary fantasy.

Yet in the last 25 years, as industrial wind farms have appeared on the landscape, they have become objects of contempt for small pockets of locals who have resisted them, particularly in natural beauty spots.

In neighbouring Prince Edward County, a plan to build a commercial off-shore windmill project has split the community.

The Eugene Register-Guard / Jan Spencer / 26 February 2008

Stories about climate change, energy costs and a shaky economy are in the news more than ever. New climate studies find that the situation is far more serious than previously thought. More countries are passing their peak of oil production. We see more clearly the emerging tip of the nation’s iceberg of economic make-believe. Effective responses to these challenges can be found close to home.

The Toronto Star / 27 February 2008 / Tony Van Alphen

Ottawa is eliminating a controversial rebate program for fuel-efficient cars after less than two years.

The federal government announced yesterday that it will no longer offer rebates ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 on eligible 2006, 2007 and 2008 models under the ecoAuto program after the end of this year.

"The program will not be available beyond the 2008 model year," said a one-line statement in the government's budget papers.

Press Release / 25 February 2008

Alexandria ON - Trees Ontario is hosting with its partners, the Ontario Forestry Association (OFA) and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority, a free ‘Show Me The Money’ tree planting workshop focused on incentive programs for planting trees, tree planting techniques and the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) which can reduce property taxes by up to 75 per cent. The workshop will be held at the Alexandria Curling Club in Alexandria on Tuesday, March 4 from 7 – 9 p.m.

Don Ross, our guest speaker at the BCAG meeting on February 24, has recommended the book "Geography of Hope" by Chris Turner. Here is a review of this book from Boston.com.