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Community-Based Sustainable Energy Strategies for Dufferin County and the Headwaters Region

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 15, 2004

Shelburne

re: PURE and CDDHS Partner on Renewable Energy Project

Local High School to Lead Pilot Project on Energy Awareness and Education

As part of its Earth Day Initiative, PURE - The Power Up Renewable Energy Co-operative is proud to announce that it has commenced the implementation of an exciting, community-based long-range educational demonstration project for renewable energy at CDDHS - Centre Dufferin District High School in Shelburne, Ontario.

The project involves the installation of a commercial-scale combination solar photo-voltaic and wind powered renewable energy system, located on the grounds of CDDHS. Students at the school will assist in all phases of the project, and be part of the maintenance and education team associated with the project for years to come.

Phase One - the installation of 14 solar panels and connection to a battery pack is now underway and will be followed by later phases which include grid connection, wind tower and turbine erection and much more. Students will be asked to monitor the energy system on an ongoing basis, conduct tours for other students, collect data and gain valuable hands-on experience with a working renewable energy system.

Spokesperson for PURE, Richard Procter, notes that “ PURE's objective in the project is not only to generate electricity – but to generate awareness of energy and conservation issues, by tying into the educational objectives at the secondary school level regarding energy issues for Dufferin-area students and the community at large.” The project will be led by the school and supported by community action through PURE and its partners.

PURE Board member and Dufferin resident Matthew Fairlie is coordinating the effort, along with PURE Education and Technical Committee members, and Mr. Jeff Wellman, assistant head of Science at CCDHS who views the project as “ a great chance for students to learn about the energy technology of the 21st century.”

The donation of the system by Fairfield Group, Matthew Fairlie's consulting company, is intended “ to make students think about their energy futures and how to address the challenge of meeting increasing energy demand within increasing environmental constraints ”. The project makes great strides in fulfilling part of PURE's education mandate, to bring awareness about renewable energy to the local community.

Pleased with the school's lead role in the project, CDDHS Principal Mr. Morrell said "This an excellent opportunity for our students to become aware of and participate in renewable energy".

This renewable energy demonstration project will make CDDHS a leader in the Ontario school system regarding energy issues and if this pilot project is successful it may be duplicated at other schools.

The system consists of a 500-Watt PhotoVoltaic panel array, a 1.5 kW wind turbine on a 25 foot tilt tower, and associated monitoring equipment.

Other PURE Co-op Earth Day Initiative activities (for the week surrounding Earth Day - April 22nd) include:

• Tuesday, April 20 - PURE Education Committee members will be on hand to host an information exhibit show booth at the Upper Grand District School Board's "Energy W.I.S.E. Initiative (We're Into Saving Energy)" Conference, held at the River Run Centre in Guelph, with keynote speaker David Suzuki. For more info, visit: www.ugdsb.on.ca/EnergyWise/energywise.htm
• Earth Day, Thursday, April 22 - PURE Board members Don Hayward and Richard Procter will be part of Orangeville's Rogers Cable Television show "Politically Speaking", at 7:00pm - a viewer call-in show which will offer local viewers the chance to call in with questions about PURE and renewable energy
• Saturday, April 24 - PURE Education Committee members will be on hand to host an information booth at the Caledon Bruce Trail Club's "Earth Day Expo" event. For more info, please visit: www.caledonbrucetrail.org

For more information about PURE and the CDDHS project, please contact:

Richard Procter, PURE Media Coordinator, 705-434-1175, info@powerupenergy.ca
Don Hayward, PURE Board President, 519-925-3286, dhayward@hurontario.net

or visit our website: www.powerupenergy.ca for recent news and announcements