Rooftop solar panels are one choice for green power options for Penticton following conclusions of a consultant's study on the matter for the City of Penticton.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
January 07, 2020 - 3:38 PM
A $75,000 study to look at possible City of Penticton green power projects is recommending rooftop solar power and peak shaving strategies to supplement its power needs.
Council heard today, Jan. 7, the result of a study produced by Midgard Consulting who partnered with CIMA+ after winning a Request for Proposal issued by the City in July 2019.
Green power generation was a subject high on council’s minds at the onset of this term, allocating $75,000 for the study.
It is hoped a new green energy source would lessen the City’s dependence on FortisBC electrical purchases.
Midgard Consulting’s Anna Le told council the study involved 17 possible energy projects, including such things as power generation through Greyback Dam, solar panels, wind, geoexchange and geothermal sources.
The projects were evaluated through a five-step market analysis with a final recommendation to look at solar projects on City-owned rooftops either new or retrofitted, and “peak shaving” - reducing the amount of energy purchased from FortisBC during peak demand hours - using battery or diesel options.
Le told council the recommended options were the most economic, although only the peak shaving diesel option was considered economic without further subsidy.
Water projects such as the Greyback dam options were rejected due to uncertainty in water availability.
Council accepted the report along with a recommendation to discuss the generation study findings with the Community Sustainability Advisory Committee, following which staff will bring a report to council in this year’s first quarter, presenting options to move forward with a power generation project in the city.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020