Genesis Place Recreation Centre is now home to the largest commercial rooftop solar panel system in Canada, according to the City, after the project was officially unveiled July 10.
“That’s an awesome thing to say – we’re the largest single rooftop solar panel system in Canada,” Mayor Peter Brown said. “And the fun part is, we’re not done yet.”
The system, made possible through a partnership with ENMAX, will meet up to 30 per cent of the facility’s electricity needs, according to the City – reducing costs by up to $80,000. Though residents are unlikely to see savings passed on in Genesis Place membership fees, according to a May interview with Shannon Shindeler, City manager of Treasury, they are likely to see the cost reduction offset the tax base.
The solar array consists of 3,800 panels and, the release stated, will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 1,000 tonnes per year – the equivalent of taking 275 cars off the road.
“Mayor Brown and the citizens of Airdrie are demonstrating environmental leadership that will benefit the community well into the future,” said Erwin Kantwerg, ENMAX vice-president of sales. “What I find really interesting about this site – it’s not because you had to do it, it’s because you wanted to do it.”
The overall cost of the project came to $2.8 million, according to the City, with 82 per cent funded through grants from the Federal Gas Tax Fund and the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre.
“This is very exciting for our community and is just the first step,” Brown said.
He referred to future projects and expressed his hope that these would also support the City’s commitment to environmental stewardship, as outlined in its AirdrieONE Sustainability plan.
“I think, moving forward, this is something that we can definitely have a look at every time we’re building new infrastructure,” Petrow said. “It’s important to be energy-conscious.”
Airdrie began talks with ENMAX dating back to March 2018, the City said in a statement, with construction beginning in mid-January.
A second phase, which the City said is due to be completed in September, will include 240 modules on a double-wing carport in the parking lot of Genesis Place. The carport, according to the release, will “provide visibility of the solar project to the public, provide some covered parking stalls, and to generate additional energy.”
Kantwerg said he hopes this installation encourages other projects, businesses and homeowners to consider solar energy.
“I drove down East Lake Boulevard and there are a number of industries here – giant buildings all having flat roofs. The opportunity is staggering,” he said. “I might have to put a sales rep in Airdrie.”
-With files from Jess Gowan
