The Town of Okotoks and Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) recently completed the installation of a 459 kW Photo Voltaic (PV) solar system on the roof of Pason Centennial Arenas (PCA). A grant from MCCAC through the Alberta Municipal Solar Program will refund 30% of the total costs, which are just over $554,000.
This solar installation produces enough electricity each year to power the equivalent of approximately 70 households and will save an estimated $24,000 in electrical consumption costs each year. It will reduce the Town’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 430 tonnes, which is equivalent to planting almost 2,400 trees.
“This is another important step forward in transitioning to more renewable energy,” said Mayor Tanya Thorn. “Projects like this are vital to implementing the Town’s Climate Action Plan and achieving our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.”
The new solar system will produce 18% of the electricity needed to power Pason Centennial Arenas, which is the Town’s second highest greenhouse-gas emitting building (after the Okotoks Recreation Centre). This project reduces the Town’s total overall municipal GHG’s by approximately 2%. The system, which includes 1020 solar panels and 8 inverters, is expected to operate for more than 30 years and will pay for itself in about 16.
The Town also received grant funding from the MCCAC’s Recreation Energy Conservation Program to cover 75% of the costs to upgrade 67 LED lights in PCA that were nearing end of life and required replacement. This new lighting will further offset the Town’s emissions by 24 tonnes.
“When you take into account the upgraded lighting, in addition to the solar installation, the amount of emissions offset is equivalent to making 50% of the Town’s municipally-owned buildings carbon neutral for electricity,” explains Sheri Young, Climate Change & Energy Specialist with the Town of Okotoks.
Combined, these projects reduce the Town’s GHG emissions by a total of 454 tonnes and offset enough electricity to fully power the Town’s Municipal Centre, Fire Station #2, Eco Centre, Art Gallery, Museum, Rotary Performing Arts Centre, Operations shop and Foothills Centennial Centre.
Both projects were approved and completed as part of the 2021 budget. The Town’s next solar installation project will occur on the roof of the Operations shop, with completion expected in 2022.
For more information about MCCAC’s grant programs visit https://mccac.ca/programs.
For more information visit okotoks.ca/SustainableFuture.
