BC Sustainable Energy Association
Introduction
The British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association, or BCSEA, is a non-profit association of citizens, professionals and practitioners committed to promoting the understanding, development and adoption of sustainable energy, energy efficiency and conservation in British Columbia.
Vision
The BCSEA's vision is a future in which all of BC’s energy comes from clean, renewable, efficient sources, for electricity, transport, and all other purposes, respecting the integrity of nature and the needs of humans and other species and their habitat, both now and in future generations, and in which BC becomes a net exporter of clean, renewable energy.
About the BCSEA
Volunteer driven and member-supported, the BCSEA has hundreds of individual, business and agency members. They are kept informed through regular chapter meetings, an actively updated website, listservs and regular electronically circulated publications, such as "The Joule" and "Watt's Happening".
Significant BCSEA initiatives include: SolarBC, 100,000 Solar Roofs, the Climate Change Game, Sustainable Energy Now!, Energy Solutions Teleworkshops and Sustainable Energy Policies & Sustainable Energy Solutions for BC.
Organizational Structure
The BCSEA has a decentralized organizational structure, with an 18-member board of directors at its core overseeing a constellation of regional chapters, committees, projects and partnerships. The current board president is award-winning author and sustainability consultant Guy Dauncey.
BCSEA chaptersorganize to organize and animate local members to activities and projects. Most chapters meet monthly and are active pursuing projects that extend the understanding and implementation of clean renewable energy and energy efficiency.
As of July 2007, there are eight local chapters across the breadth of BC: Central Interior, Comox Valley, Kamloops, Okanagan, South Peace, Greater Vancouver, Victoria and West Kootenays.
Active BCSEA committees include Energy Policy, Business Engagement, Organizational Development and Chapters. The Energy Policy group actively participates in BC government, BC Hydro and BC Utilities Commission proceedings to influence energy policy in accordance with BCSEA's mission and goals.
The BCSEA is an active member or partner in many coalitions and projects. Key among these are the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), Fossil-Free GVRD (Shift), the Livable Region Coalition, the Northwest Energy Coalition and the Oil Free Coast Coalition.