Opportunity surrounds environment-based industries

Local business owners and directors see future growth in environment-based industries. 

Global clean energy, electric bike and agriculture markets are predicted to be worth $2 to $31 billion in the next two to five years and opportunities are developing for these industries locally. 

During the last 12 years, solar panel provider Green Sun Rising has had over 300 completed projects. Company president Klaus Dohring says new buildings present a chance for renewable energy. 

“Why are we building new buildings that don’t have solar systems in them. Why are we continuing to build stuff where we know in the next decades, we will need to retrofit,” said Dohring. 

The World Economic Forum predicts 70,000 solar panels will be added every hour over the next five years globally. 

Established in 2002, Ambassador Bicycles has been selling electric bikes for about 15 years. Store owner Robert Parent said the Windsor-Essex region is improving for e-bike riders. 

“Infrastructure and cost are probably the two greatest factors, but that’s now becoming a bit more accessible on both ends,” said Parent. 

Infrastructure is changing to allow electric bikes more freedom into areas like provincial parks and quality bike models are getting cheaper with costs ranging from $1,300 to $2,300. 

Justin Falconer, senior director at Workforce WindsorEssex, said technology aids local agriculture.  

“Everything’s beginning to change now where they can see their property from a sky view. They can see where pests are on their property and to what extent,” said Falconer. 

A report by the Royal Bank of Canada says using technology with national agriculture can add $11 billion to the Canadian GDP over 10 years. 

As the agriculture and clean energy industries draw interest, gaining investments totalling $269 million last year and $3.4 trillion in the past decade, these industries are making their way into the community.