August 14 is Blackout Day and the Run for One Planet will “have fun with the lights off!” in the City of Woodstock
Blackout Day recognizes a massive Blackout that occurred on August 14, 2003. It was the largest blackout in North-American history, and affected significant portions of the Northeastern United States and most of Ontario for up to 3 days in some areas.
In 2005, the Woodstock Environment Advisory Committee (WEAC) proposed a Voluntary Blackout Day Challenge for Ontario Municipalities to acknowledge the 2003 massive Blackout . With support from Woodstock Hydro and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), this grassroots event evolved from humble beginnings as a local Woodstock event in 2005, to a Province-wide municipal challenge in 2006.
2007 saw the challenge extended out to all business owners in Ontario as the event was held on a weekday for the first time. Blackout Day is intended to communicate the need for energy conservation and demand management to the public.
Beyond saving energy on just one day, the City of Woodstock, now in partnership with The Blackout Day Group, is striving to raise awareness of the need to conserve electricity throughout the year. Our power system is essential to every aspect of our modern lives, yet it is fragile and must not be taken for granted.
Check out www.blackoutday.ca to take the Blackout Day Challenge!