2012
Renewable Energy
David Stevenson, Colchester-Cumberland Wind Farm (CCWF) Team headshot
Clean50 Award Logo

David Stevenson, Colchester-Cumberland Wind Farm (CCWF) Team

President, Colchester-Cumberland Wind Farm (CCWF)
The CCWF is the first 100 per cent community-owned wind field in Canada. David and David led the way, raising 1.2 million from 200 local residents, another 1.3 million in debt, and built the turbine, recently submitting their first invoice to Nova Scotia Power. Their program has become the model for others in Nova Scotia's COMFIT program (COMmunity Feed-In-Tariff) and both teach others how to emulate their program. Swan oversaw and managed all technical issues; Stevenson oversaw organizational and financial aspects of the company. Together they encouraged the community to align its values with the renewable energy investment opportunity. This inspired the community to recognize that the project was possible and profitable. Almost 200 people across all walks of life responded by investing, including their RRSPs. All of the electricity produced by CCWF is used in the community. Swan, a PhD in engineering, has been engaged in research on electrical cars since the late '80s, and Stevenson, with a Doctorate in Education has led community groups in a variety of ventures, the most recent in building a new local library.