Under the sun

County to re-examine solar panels on the Wellington arena

Mayor Peter Mertens wants to take another look at installing solar panels on the Wellington and District Community Centre. Two years ago County council looked at several proposals just after the community centre was constructed, but the economics weren’t attractive enough at the time to warrant the risk and expense. But since then the cost of solar panels and installation has dropped dramatically— from about $8 per kilowatt to about $3 per kW installed. The price the province is willing to pay for solar-generated electricity has also dropped.

Mertens says he has re-examined the financial model and the numbers now make the project more feasible, at least on paper—sufficiently so to take another hard look at it.

Under the previous plan it was contemplated that 224 solar panels would be installed on the south wall of the arena and on the roof of the Highline Hall and community centre common areas. No panels may be placed on the roof of the arena proper, as it would void the warranty.

Mertens noted that the window for the next round of FIT applications could open at any time; council and staff would have to move quickly if they were to prepare an application for this next round.

Mertens believes the municipality would have a significant advantage in this process since the province allots three priority points to communitybased projects.

Some worry that the municipality might be seen as jumping to the head of the line while it made private developers sit and wait as council mulled over to whom, and under what conditions, it would award the priority points in its discretion.

Mertens assured council that these criteria were coming forward soon, but said the two issues were unrelated.

Others don’t want to stop at the Wellington arena, but would like to see solar panels on all County— owned buildings.

For now council will settle for harder numbers and a firm proposal about how it might make money from the sun shining on the Wellington and District Community Centre.