ATTENTION: We have partnered with Bullfrog Power for the final week of the campaign. Any donations provided will now be matched by them! Please give generously!
We are crowd funding to build Newfoundland and Labrador's first 100% renewable energy powered, 365-day-a-year Greenhouse. The goal of this project is to demonstrate the power and efficiency of modern clean energy as a first step to sparking green jobs and the green economy in our province. The building will be heated with geo-thermal energy, use cutting edge materials and incorporate wind and solar technologies to power LED grow lights in the winter months. We know that all this is very doable and with your help, we can make it happen here."
Our Story:
We are Iron and Earth East, the Atlantic Canadian chapter of an oil sands worker led group pushing for investments in green energy and re-training in renewables.
In a nutshell, we want to bring the green energy revolution to Atlantic Canada. We are starting our Atlantic efforts in Newfoundland and Labrador as that is where we’re from.
A once-in-a-generation economic opportunity for Newfoundland:
Climate change and the shift away from fossil fuels is remaking our world. Investments in green energy are outpacing oil and gas 2-1, creating thousands of jobs and untold economic opportunities. Newfoundland and Labrador has some of the richest renewable energy resources on the planet and is in a unique position to become a global leader in these industries of the future. We want our province to embrace this new industrial revolution.
Our incredible green energy resources can be coupled with the inherent storage of our hydro projects to create a stable and powerful source of electricity. This energy is very attractive to green energy hungry markets like the North-Eastern United States.
To be clear, we are not against oil and gas. Most of our members still work in that sector. We are simply for green energy and re-training. We believe that by diversifying our energy sector to include green generation we will be securing both our future job prospects and the health of the planet.
Why oil sands workers are passionate about renewable energy:
We want to see our region fully embrace these opportunities and put our skilled tradespeople back to work. As workers we have the hands-on skills to install and maintain renewable technologies. Our position also gives us a unique perspective that can help bring people together around this economic expansion.
How we will bring green economic diversity to Atlantic Canada:
Our mission is to bring green energy jobs to Atlantic Canada. We will do this through pilot projects, retraining programs, advocacy, research and education. We believe the opportunities that we can help create will benefit our province both financially and environmentally. Our current priorities include:
- Building pilot projects to demonstrate the power of renewables. Our first project is a renewable energy-powered green house that will use the latest technology to produce food year-round. We recently received a grant of $15,000 for this project and will be using it as an opportunity to re-train our first workers in green energy.
- Create a re-training program in renewables for out-of-work tradespeople. Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the only provinces without any training opportunities in renewables. We plan to change that.
- Encourage and assist the government to create a bold, long-term vision of how our province will deal with, and benefit from, the shift away from fossil fuels.
- Advocate for the approval of Net Metering legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador. Net Metering is a key factor for the expansion of green energy use and without it the government is impeding one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy. We are bringing together a coalition of labour, environmental, social justice, and business groups to call for Net Metering.
- Contribute to the Worker's Climate Plan, a national campaign that will contribute to the federal government's ongoing climate change consultations. This document will represent those workers most affected by the shift away from fossil fuels. Please check out www.workersclimateplan.ca for more info.
We believe that with the challenge of climate change looming large and the current financial realities related to our over-reliance on oil and gas now is the perfect time to push for these technologies.
With your help we can bring the green energy revolution to Newfoundland and Labrador. We can put our province back to work and secure and safe and healthy future for our children.
Team:
Adam Cormier:
Adam Cormier is a journeyman electrician and proud IBEW member based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Before switching to the trades Adam graduated from Memorial University with degrees in business and English. He has worked in both the oil sands in Alberta and the mining sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. Adam is passionate about alternative energy and is looking forward to bringing the green energy revolution to the east coast.
Nick Mercer:
Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts, major in Environmental studies, and recently completed the requirements for his Master of Arts, major in Environmental Policy. Nick's research focuses broadly on renewable energy policy and community sustainability. For his masters thesis, Nick conducted 17 expert interviews with relevant stakeholders, in order to identify the most pressing barriers to renewable energy development in Newfoundland and Labrador. Nick will be beginning PhD studies at the University of Waterloo in the fall, where he will be studying social science aspects of renewable energy development in remote communities who are reliant on diesel electricity generation.
Chris Collins:
Chris Collins is an apprentice electrician with extensive experience in industrial environments and the offshore. A passionate environmentalist, Chris is looking forward to representing the next generation of tradespeople and helping to bring green jobs to Atlantic Canada.
Blair Agnew:
Blair Agnew has passion for marketing and social awareness. After graduating form Concordia University, he went straight to work in advertising agencies in Toronto. After working at agencies (Zentih Optimedia, PHD and MaxxMedia) this passion carried over to event marketing (T.I.F.F, Much Music Video Awards and Canada's Walk of Fame). A move to St. John's allowed the opportunity to work as a digital specialist at TC Media where he acquired a social media marketing certification from Memorial University of Newfoundland. This experience has given him an exciting opportunity to combine marketing know-how and social responsibility to bring awareness to renewable energy opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador through the Iron and Earth East.
Danilo Gonzalez:
Danilo Gonzalez Diaz is an Agronomist Engineer, who graduated in 2006 from Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso in Chile, and a specialist in Urban Agriculture. He has worked for the Government of Chile, directing and coordinating a variety of urban agricultural projects. He has worked with Chilean NGO’s, helping more than 400 South American families in more than 10 different cities reduce poverty and improve production systems for local small agricultural businesses. He has worked as a university professor and thesis adviser preparing new agronomist engineers in the field of Urban Agriculture. In 2010, he arrived in Canada and worked on urban landscaping projects in Edmonton. In 2011, he moved to St. John’s, and worked to assist local growers improve production systems. He has worked as a wholesale head grower for Woodland Nurseries Ltd., and is the creator of Growing Global Wellness (formerly GardenMind,) an organization which assists the community in creating new green spaces, and sustainable urban food production. He has provided workshops during events of The Food Security Network, McMorran Community Centre, Town of Torbay, Food Education Action in St. John’s, and other organizations. Danilo is currently the Market Manager of the St. John’s Farmers Market Co-op, managing over 250 vendors and working with the board of directors on the transition to the St. John’s Community Market which will open in 2018 at the former Metrobus Depot. This new Market, seven times bigger than the current location, will work as one of the main incubators for local farmers and new local businesses in the province.
Iron and Earth National:
Our national office has a team of experienced tradespeople, media professionals and renewable energy experts who will be supporting us every step of the way. Please check out www.ironandearth.org for more information.
