THERE IS A DIFFERENT WAY ...
People in our community have been working for many years to secure sustainable energy for our region. In Europe, people are much farther along than we are. You can see in this chart from Denmark that communities have taken the lead in building these resources. It's made a real difference!
Renewable energy resources are complex and expensive. It takes two to three million dollars to build a community wind project and more than five million dollars to build a biodiesel production facility. If we want these resources to be community owned, the community needs to invest in them now.
Securities laws make community ownership difficult here in the US. It's not easy for every day folks to pool their money and build big things. While we can't pool our money for investments, a cooperative structure allows us to pool our money to secure our access to products and services we want to use.
With Co-op Power, we've found a way for community ownership to make a real difference. Co-op Power can get us the sustainable energy we need:
· Co-op Power has launched Northeast Biodiesel Company to secure our access to biodiesel fuel. Northeast Biodiesel will manufacture biodiesel with recycled vegetable oil from restaurants and cafeterias. Biodiesel is a home-heating and transportation fuel that is biodegradable and clean burning. Blended with petroleum-based diesel, it can be used in any oil burner or diesel engine without modification.
· Co-op Power will invest in local wind projects, helping them get built, and securing our access to renewable energy certificates.
· Co-op Power will also secure our access to a host of other sustainable energy resources -- solar attic fans and other solar energy systems, waste vegetable oil burners, efficient windows and doors, and much more.
· After 3 years, we anticipate that Coop-Power will give us 15 to 20 cents back on each dollar we spend on its energy products and services.
· After five years, we expect Co-op Power will generate over $250,000 a year in development funds for building new sustainable energy resources in our communities.
Join now, and we'll have something that will bring value to our children and their children for years to come.
Joining Co-op Power means:
· Investing $975 for your membership share and $25 for your annual membership fee.
· The potential of earning back $1,000 worth of discounts and dividends (based on your purchases) within 6-7 years if you purchase $1,000/year of Co-op Power's energy products and services.
· Earning $1,000 dollars back much sooner if you buy a large item like a solar hot water system or a furnace for your home.
· After five years, more significant member discounts and dividends (based on your purchases) available because of increased buying power, service offerings and investments maturity.
Your member equity will be held in trust until we have enough members to launch. If you cancel your membership, your member equity share will be refundable once the business has become established.
Our goal is 2,000 people across New England and New York joining Co-op Power by in the next five years. With $2 million in member equity, we'll be able to build five to six biodiesel plants, community wind projects and other sustainable energy resources in our region and have access to affordable, clean energy for years to come.
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