Stand Up For Solar B.C.

May 31, 2011

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Stand Up for Solar B.C.

Overview• Sussex is a full-service public affairs firm assisting its clients with

strategic communications and government relations services across the country.

• No firm has as much depth of experience or direct impact on public policy regarding renewable energy.

• We responded to a CanSIA RFP in October 2010 to develop and deliver a communications program to support solar in Ontario with a focus on supporting advocacy efforts in Ontario to begin, but scalable to other provinces (B.C.)

• We have focused on engaging the members, their employees, families and the generally supportive public as grassroots supporters of solar

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Stand Up For Solar B.C.

• Campaign aims to provide an effective and cost-effective means to engage people as advocates to show all politicians and policy makers that there is a demand from British Columbians for a government program to support solar

• Importantly, the campaign is completely non-partisan

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Stand Up For Solar – B.C.

• Advocacy website developed www.standupforsolar.ca (also .com)• Goal is to drive traffic to site• Capture contact information• Encourage advocacy• Remain in contact and encourage future action

• New twitter and Facebook accounts• Allows people to choose how they receive info from us• Also allows further outreach by public from their own

accounts

• Development of content for advocacy site• Much from CanSIA• Would benefit from B.C. support and contributions• Maintain daily/weekly update of content to keep fresh• Video testimonials to address key benefits of solar program

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Stand Up For Solar – B.C.

Outreach - What we need to build interest and action: • Spread the word

• Employees• Suppliers• Friends and Family• Ideas of interest groups that should participate

CanSIA will:• Email requests for participation to members• Invite attendees of Solar Canada 2010 • Invite Environmental groups and others

This will result in positive awareness and action – it will create a good base for support

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Stand Up For Solar – B.C.

Benefits of an on-line advocacy tool

• Days of petitions and physical letter-writing campaigns are numbered

• Politicians use email, twitter and facebook

• On-line tools make it easy for people to participate who otherwise might not take the time.

• Easy to refresh and update content of site but also of messages they can send to MLAs etc.

• Everything is measurable

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Stand Up For Solar – B.C.

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Stand Up For Solar – B.C.

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Stand Up For Solar – B.C.

This program will be successful if:

• Members get behind it, use it and promote it to others

• We find creative ways to get public attention for the site

• MLAs and candidates start to hear on a frequent and consistent basis from supporters of solar

• It is followed-up with direct advocacy with government

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Toronto, Ontario(416) 961-6611

www.sussex-strategy.com

440 Laurier Avenue WestSuite 200

Ottawa, Ontario(613) 782-2320