Investor Relations with Bear Mountain Wind Park or as stated by Review Dissertation

Investor Relations with Bear Mountain Wind Park or as stated by Review Board in my notes to be uploaded - Dissertation Example ......................................................... Anthony Boydell, PhD, Director School of Environment and Sustainability ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY December 2010 Â © Marie Louise Vander Heiden, 2010 Abstract This study addressed the communication efforts of Peace Energy Cooperative (PEC) leading residents of the Peace River region in North Eastern British Columbia to invest in the Bear Mountain Wind Park (BMWP), a renewable, locally-based, environmentally-responsive wind energy project. A survey and subsequent email correspondence further explored local investor interest in renewable energy stakeholder relations. Respondents were motivated and aspired to be a component of environmental change; PEC allowed residents to act through financial investment. This study demonstrates media-based communications acting as a strong diffusion method in driving social networks to invest in renewable energy; however, it does not identify the single ideal method. Understanding significant infl uential factors that draw individuals towards renewable energy investment sources will act positively towards progression to a sustainable planet. Acknowledgements I would like to give thanks to the administrative support I received from PEC and all the members of PEC who kindly participated in my surveys. Great love and appreciation goes out to my kind, helpful and always encouraging husband, Michael. Thank you to my supervisor, Dr. Richard Kool who made my MEEC thesis experience very challenging but worth the sweat and tears. Rick, you pushed me to be better than I thought possible. My highest regards to Royal Roads University and Staff who were always there for me when I needed the support and guidance, especially Dr. Milt McClaren who went far beyond my furthest expectations, you are one-of-a-kind. I acknowledge support of my editor, Dr. Marie-Terese Little, who provided excellent guidance on APA and Royal Roads University-specific formatting and styling, grammar, sentence struc ture, syntax, punctuation and verbosity. Finally, to my lovely daughter Leila, I gave birth to you during this entire thesis process and you not only made it all worth it but you inspired me to be the best Mom and Environmental Educator I can be. Table of Contents Public Interest and Stakeholder Relations 3 Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Energy Sources 4 Purpose of Study 4 Research Questions 5 Research Objectives 7 Chapter 2: Literature Review 9 Climate Change and Global Warming 9 Renewable Energy Sources and Public Interest 10 Wind Energy- Attributes 24 Supply and Demand 25 Research Design and Rationale 26 Participants and Site 29 Data Analysis 31 Early Investors 35 Late Investors 35 No Investors 55 Conclusion 62 List of Abbreviations B.C. British Columbia BMWP Bear Mountain Wind Park EAO Environmental Assessment Office km Kilometre LP Limited Partnership MW Megawatts PEC Peace Energy Cooperative RECs Renewable energy certificates REEEP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnersh ip RPS Renewable Portfolio Standards Chapter 1: Introduction The Peace Energy Cooperative is an education and investment cooperative that promotes the development of renewable energy and looks for investments to make these developments happen while making a return on investment for their member investors. Their only investment to date has been the Bear Mountain Wind Park, described below, although they are also involved with research and development with several other concerns. PEC boasts 400