People of the Energy Issues Committee

Regional Energy Coordinator

Catherine Abreu

Catherine Abreu is Regional Energy Coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre. She is also the Regional Coordinator of the Atlantic Canada Sustainable Energy Coalition (ACSEC). Catherine is committed to work that confronts climate change head-on, wielding bold and creative strategies. She thinks a lot about citizenship, community, and beauty, and does her best to incorporate these values into each of her endeavors. Catherine was a community organizer and coalition-builder while completing her degree in Anthropology and Environmental Policy at the University of Toronto. She simultaneously worked as project manager for the lab of one of Canada’s top environmental chemists. Moving to Halifax gave Catherine the opportunity to connect with an unparalleled wealth of engaged individuals and organizations in Nova Scotia. Prior to beginning her work with EAC and ACSEC, she helped to found the Nova Scotia Coalition for Climate Action and coordinated several multi-disciplinary conferences on issues related to climate change.

Renewable Energy Coordinator

Wayne Groszko, Ph.D.

Dr. Groszko has nine years experience in the field of renewable energy, focusing on solar energy and wind energy education, consulting and project development. He organized "Harvest the Wind 2010 and 2011", workshops about wind energy for landowners, as well as "Making the COMFIT Work for Communities" workshop in 2011, and is a co-author of "Wind Energy in Nova Scotia: A guide for landowners and communities", in partnership with the Pembina Institute. Dr. Groszko managed the successful Ecology Action Centre Solar Gain Project, providing education and solar suitability assessments for building owners. He has designed and installed off-grid and on-grid residential wind and solar energy projects in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Dr. Groszko is a former member of the Board of Directors of Solar Nova Scotia, and teaches courses in environmental science at Dalhousie University.
 

Energy Efficiency Coordinator

Emma Norton

Emma Norton is an honours graduate of the University of King’s College with a combined degree in Environment, Sustainability, and Society and International Development Studies. She is enthusiastic about the power of community and motivating other people. During her years at university she worked as the Sustainability Officer for King’s and participated in many events surrounding the voices of youth in environmental activism. She believes that the Maritimes could become a world leader in energy generation and is encouraged by the knowledge, talent and hard work she has seen in Nova Scotia.
 

Board Representative

Jamie Thomson

Jamie Thomson is a mechanical engineer with a long standing interest in energy systems and renewable energy. His work experience in instrumentation, electronics and manufacturing has taught him that a good planet is hard to find.

Committee Chair

Stephen Thomas

Stephen Thomas is from Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia and is currently in his fifth year of the Mechanical Engineering program at Dalhousie University. Stephen has work term experience with the Nova Scotia government, Seaforth Energy and Scotian WindFields. Through these work term experiences, he has worked on large-scale energy efficient lighting and heating systems of government buildings, extensive research and design on the AOC15/50 50kW wind turbine and the development of large-scale, community-owned wind projects in Nova Scotia. When not studying, he is a member of If You Build It, a community-based organization building renewable energy projects in Halifax including a 1kW wind turbine and solar-powered portable generator. Stephen looks forward to contributing as much as possible to energy issues in Nova Scotia though chairing the EAC's Energy Issues Committee. Stephen also really, really enjoys cycling.