Building and Maintaining Momentum in these COVID Times
The unprecedented global COVID 19 pandemic points to the need for strong locally based solutions, of which clean energy is included. Along with this realization, the isolation that comes with social distancing and the new challenges of drastic economic uncertainty, not to mention the thousands of parents now home-schooling; the need for community connection is at an all time high (call your grandparents, check in on your neighbors!). Again, we can see parallels to how building and fostering community, the bedrock of com-gen, is so important. Com-Gen projects move slowly and while we shift from the sprint to stock-up (never stockpile, you can’t eat toiler paper) and stay-in, I want to talk a bit about maintaining the forward progress that is the marathon of a com-gen project. First and foremost, if you do nothing on your project, that is A-OK. This is a challenging time. It is not a sabbatical to work on a passion project. If you are looking for a few ideas to keep your momentum, might I suggest:
1. Share your project/Share an Update
You have done a ton of work, you are doing something innovative, and there is a captive audience out there that would love to hear about what you’re doing. This is as simple as picking up the phone and calling a colleague, or sending an email with a status update. You could also host a short presentation over zoom or film a clip and post it on your website or social media. Need an audience? Please drop a line
2. Start A Com-Gen Project
The first steps to starting a Com-Gen project could occur from the comfort of your home. If you are tasked with home-schooling, perhaps this could be fit with the curriculum; outsource the work to the more junior staff-members in your team/household. This is by no means an exhaustive list, or a step-by-step guide, but a list of resources that could help initiate a project
Learn about Connecting to the Grid
Assess the potential for a solar or wind project. Put the location of a few prospective projects into the Global Solar or Wind Atlases:
Create a report to see how much renewable energy could be generated
Compare the results relative to your energy use, and the price of electricity
Identify substations in your area. Where is the best place to connect?
· Review AESO’s long-term forecast to estimate the price you could sell the renewable energy generated by your project
3. Stay connected
Every second Friday at noon we are hosting a remote “coffee/lunch” meetup over zoom. This is an informal discussion to share project updates, talk about challenges and opportunities. To join the conversation, simply complete this short FORM, and we will send you a zoom invitation. Our next meetup is April 17th, then May 1st.