" It's great to see local people working together to take some ownership of
the renewable energy sources that are so abundant in the Peace. This is true community-building with a clear and clean vision for the future."

Cees Mond, Pouce Coupe

Membership is growing everyday at the Peace Energy Cooperative and there are a number of benefits to belonging! Click WHAT'S NEW for further information!

      About Peace Energy

The basic concept for Peace Energy Cooperative was conceived early 2002. Two Dawson Creek businessmen with a keen interest in renewable energy and energy conservation, Don Pettit and Paul Kurjata, realized the potential for wind energy in the Peace River Country. The Peace is rich in fossil fuels that are extracted by a handful of giant and mostly multi-national companies. Pettit and Kurjata argued that as a cooperative, Peace Energy can pool resources and expertise from local people who can then actually own some of this this new resource industry in the Peace Region.

Peace Energy started taking memberships in May 2002, With about 80 members signed up, Peace Energy incorporated as a cooperative on Oct. 21, 2003.

As its major project, Peace Energy has its sights set at establishing a wind park on Bear Mountain, nearby Dawson Creek, and identified by BC Hydro as one of the most promising sites in British Columbia to generate power from the wind. Peace Energy secured the right to pursue this wind park in July 2004. Three months later, Peace Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Aeolis Wind Power Corporation of Sidney, B.C., to partner on the development of Bear Mountain.

Besides the Bear Mountain project, Peace Energy is committed to make renewable energy accessible and affordable for its members in the Peace Region of northern British Columbia and Alberta. This includes wind energy, geothermal heating, solar power, bio fuels, as well as energy conservation methods.

By banding together in Peace Energy Cooperative, northern residents have a way to share in the abundance of renewable energy available in their Peace Region. It also gives them a united voice in lobbying governments to encourage the move to renewable energy.

Membership Associations

Peace Energy Cooperative is a member of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), the BC Cooperative Association (BCCA) and the Dawson Creek and District Chamber of Commerce.

Recognition

Peace Energy Cooperative received the 2005 Environment Friendly Award at the Northern BC Business and Industry Trade Show.  The award recognizes a company, organization or individual who has either developed an innovative product or a unique way to help attain or maintain a clean environment.

Peace Energy Cooperative received the 2006 Most Innovative Business of the Year award at the Dawson Creek and District Chamber of Commerce President’s Gala.  The award is given for business contributions to the community relating to the development of innovative measures and growth plans for future contributions to the South Peace region.

The PEC Board of Directors

President Steve Rison M.Sc. Natural Resources Management – Steve Rison is a self-employed businessman as owner/operator of Dawson Saw Works. 

Steve is also very active in the environmental movement.  In addition to his position as president of Peace Energy Cooperative he is also Chair of the Board of the Canadian Environmental Network, and a past chair and director of the BC Environmental Network.

           Vice President/Director Donald Pettit - Don Pettit is a local businessman and owner of Peace  

           PhotoGraphics Inc. in Dawson Creek that specializes in sustainability marketing and

           communications.

Don has been very active in the environmental movement in the Peace area for 25 years, and lives in a solar powered sustainable home. Don is also one of the founding members of Peace Energy Cooperative.

Treasurer/Director Dr. Chris Garwah DC, B.Sc. - Chris Garwah is a local chiropractor and outdoor enthusiast.  He is very active within the community, especially regarding issues of health and fitness. 

Chris and his wife Nancy have been members of the Peace Energy Cooperative since the beginning and work hard to promote environmental friendly values.

Director Rupert Kirk A.Sc.T - Rupert Kirk has been a resident in Dawson Creek for 30 years along with his wife Claire and their 3 children. He joined the PEC Board in 2004 as an opportunity to see renewable energy become a reality.

The family has always considered conservation and proper use of energy as a part of their life style.  Rupert is employed as a Senior Estimator with DGS Astro Paving and he has also operated a small consulting business involving civil engineering activities, on a proprietary basis, for almost 20 years.

Director Jim Farrow I.E.T. (Instrumentaion Engineering Technologist) - Jim Farrow is employed by Spectra Energy Gas Transmission and has experience in the oil, natural gas, chemical and pulp industries.

Jim, his wife Marilyn, and their four children have lived at the junction of the Pine River and Murray River for nearly 12 years where they have enjoyed hiking, canoeing and fishing. Jim and his family appreciate the spectacular Peace Country wilderness and would like their involvement in Peace Energy Cooperative to help preserve this undervalued treasure.

Director Raymond Chmielewski - Raymond Chmielewski is a life long resident of Dawson Creek, and is currently employed as a sales representative with Hart Modular Homes. He is actively pursuing his AACI, and is also a farm and residential appraisser.  Raymond graduated a 2 year full time college and university course at the Fort St. John campus of the Northern Lights College and recieved a diploma in Land and Resource Management in 2004.  His life long education has given him a wide variety of experience in sales, customer relations, construction, mechanics, trucking, and farming, as well as the oil and gas industry.

           Raymond farms and raises horses, as well, is a full time single parent to his two    

           children.  Raymond and his family reside at the junction of the 212 RD and the Alaska

           Highway.  They enjoy horseback events, collecting muscle cars, gardening and most outdoor  

           activities.  

           Raymond and his children have a great respect for the environment, and are most interested in

           nature and sustainable energy.  Raymond joined Peace Energy in 2004, and this spring (2009)

           became actively involved as a director.  

           Raymond would like to see all areas of natural sustainable and renewable energy one day 

           utilized on many private properties in the peace region and beyond.  It is his goal is to see the

           positve growth towards renewable energy needs and production come to light, as a result of the

           Peace Energy Cooperative.  And to be active in the preservation of this lovely piece of the world,

           the mighty peace, for his children and their generations after. 

Director, Bill Studley - Bill was born and raised In the Peace River area, grew up on a farm in Sunrise Valley, and except for a few short stretches of time away, has lived in the area all his life.  He holds a diploma in Land and Resource Management from Northern Lights College, and a certificate in Wildlife and Ecology Management from Stratford Career Institute.  He describes himself as a “sensible environmentalist” and has been involved in the environmental movement with a special interest in alternative energy and waste reduction for over 30 years.

Executive Director Valerie V. Gilson - Valerie Gilson moved from Ontario to Dawson Creek to join her husband in early 2006.  Valerie brought a strong administration and business background to Peace Energy, as well as past renewable energy experience in geothermal and small solar.  She sat on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Earth Energy Association (CEEA)/Earth Energy Society of Canada (EESC) in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Her interest in renewable energy and renewable resources became more concentrated with her research into environmental impacts and health issues when her daughter began suffering breathing and skin problems at 3 months of age thought due, in-part, to the industrial air and water pollutants that have become prevalent in the south-western Ontario basin.  This research led to the development and manufacturing of natural bath and body products produced without the harsh detergents and chemicals that are hard on the environment and the skin.

Valerie feels it’s an exciting time to be living in the Peace region of BC; there are so many opportunities to make a difference that will have a valuable impact on our future and future generations.  Wind, solar, geothermal… it’s all right here; Valerie looks forward to the challenges and the future for the Peace and for Peace Energy Cooperative!