City of Calgary taking advantage of Alberta municipal solar program

Minister Phillips with MLA Anam Kazim and representatives from the City of Calgary, the Town of Banff and ENMAX at the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant.

Since program launched in June – 104 residences, businesses and non-profits had systems pre-approved

The City of Calgary is saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions with support from the Alberta Municipal Solar Program, according to an Alberta government press release.

The program has helped Calgary add more than 2.3 megawatts of energy capacity to six public buildings using solar power, including the Glenmore and Bearspaw water treatment plants, the Mount Pleasant Fire Station, an organic composting facility and two other buildings in Calgary.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) panels will save $300,000 in annual utility costs, offsetting more than 47,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – equal to taking 10,000 passenger vehicles off the road for a year.

“These projects will help Calgary save on its bottom line while supporting 46 local jobs and adding more than 10 per cent capacity to Alberta’s operating solar systems. This is just another example of how we’re working to make life better for Albertans by investing in a brighter future,” said Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks and Minister Responsible for the Climate Change Office.

Albertans can track the energy produced by the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant system in real time. The 291-kilowatt system will save more than $34,000 every year and has already saved the equivalent of 330 planted trees.

“The Glenmore Water Treatment Plant investment fits well with Calgary’s Climate Resilience Strategy. It’s another way to manage energy efficiency and carbon reductions and, more broadly, reduce climate risks in our business operations,” said Dick Ebersohn, manager of climate change and environment, City of Calgary.

Calgary businesses and homeowners have also embraced solar power in a big way. Since the June launch of Energy Efficiency Alberta’s Residential and Commercial Solar Program, 104 residences, businesses and non-profits have had systems pre-approved.

“This is another great example of how the electricity industry is evolving, with renewables and distributed sources of electricity becoming an increasingly important part of Alberta’s energy mix. As a provider of renewable energy to the City of Calgary since 2007, we’re proud to facilitate commercial and community-scale projects that enable the city to build a smarter energy future for its citizens and the environment,” said John Rilett, director of enhanced energy services and renewables, ENMAX.

Through the Alberta Municipal Solar Program, the province has also partnered with 11 other communities in southern Alberta.

These projects add nearly 700 kilowatts of renewable energy capacity to the grid, thanks to solar panels on several buildings including a library in Medicine Hat, arenas in Black Diamond and Cardston and the Fenlands Recreation Centre in Banff.

Municipal solar projects south of Red Deer

• Banff – Fenlands Recreation Centre
• Bighorn – Francis Cooke Regional Landfill
• Black Diamond – Scott Seaman Sports Rink
• Calgary
  • Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant
  • Fire Station 7: Mount Pleasant
  • Glenmore Water Treatment Plant
  • Manchester Building M
  • Organic Composting Facility
  • TELUS Spark
• Canmore – Civic Centre
• Cardston – Civic Centre and Ice Centre
• Innisfail – Town Office
• Kneehill County – Administration Building
• Lethbridge – Sports Centre
• Medicine Hat – Library
• Mountain View County – Agricultural Services Shop
• Wheatland County – Administration Building