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. Even after initial fundraising goals for the Ex Place turbine were met, investment continued. These funds have been held in an escrow account for future WindShare members in anticipation of the co-op’s next project.

For more information, visit our Exhibition Place Turbine Site.