A renewable energy developer had secured two 40-year renewable energy contracts and site control of several other low-head, low-impact waterpower project sites. What they needed was a business, a team, financing, and a leader to move the projects forward.
This project was about using a long-term asset to build a business from scratch that would meet the business, social, and environmental goals of the owner and many stakeholders. Easily replicable operational, financial, and project development models would be needed to complete the future projects. We used our extensive executive network to hire the leadership team and engineering staff, and to secure the business financing. We also wanted to engage stakeholders such as municipalities, First Nations communities, and advocacy groups as possible partners and equity investors in the projects.
Within two years we launched the business with a dozen staff and subcontractors, raised over $1.5 million in equity financing, secured site control over 15 MW of power on a dozen possible project sites, completed agreements in principle with five First Nations communities, had motions of support from local municipalities, and completed a rigorous CCCC verified audited B-Corp certification process. The company was recognized as a global top 100 B-Corp Company and was the first community-supported renewable energy developer in Canada.