Making History

Making History: Changing the Toronto Skyline

In 1999, the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) received a grant to study three potential sites for an urban wind turbine project in Toronto. To determine local interest and support, TREC began a community outreach program and held public information meetings in community centres, church halls and institutions across the Greater Toronto Area.

TREC created the WindShare Co-operative and launched a membership and investment campaign in support of potential wind power projects. In 2002, TREC identified Exhibition Place as a viable location for a wind turbine: the ExPlace turbine became WIndshare's debut project. Within four months, 427 pioneer members had invested an average amount of $2000 each in support of the Exhibition Place turbine. By the second day the turbine was under construction, WindShare membership was fully subscribed and the $800,000 capital investment target had been reached. For more information, visit our Exhibition Place Turbine Site.