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Township leery of solar power By Liz Dadson |
Huron-Kinloss council To Comment on this article Click Here |
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Huron-Kinloss council is not jumping on the solar power bandwagon just yet. At a special council meeting Monday night (Sept. 26), the township heard a feasibility proposal from Solar Logix regarding rooftop solar panels, and ground-mount solar panels. Mayor Mitch Twolan said the evening was about gathering information only. "If council agrees with this presentation, it does not mean we're proponents of a project," he said. Oliver Nagel, director of projects with Solar Logix, outlined the proposal. Rooftop panels could be placed on a shed beside the Ripley-Huron Community Centre, or a ground-mount model could be located in the same area, he said. As Nagel was about to embellish on the proposal, councillor Jim Hanna reminded him that he had only 15 minutes. "Council has had the report so perhaps you can give us the highlights," said Twolan. Nagel said the rooftop panels would provide average monthly revenue of $647 over 20 years. The project would cost $155,365, and would pay for itself in about eight years. "We are ready to go on this one," said Nagel. "Once the decision was made, we could proceed." The ground-mount model, he said, produces more electricity but at a lower rate. The initial cost is $136,109 and the revenue is almost $1,000 per month. It would pay for itself in just over eight years. Nagel said Solar Logix is based in Thunder Bay and has offices in Oakville and Ottawa. It has 100 installations, has plenty of experience in solar power, and has solid financial backing. The company installs only high-quality panels which will outlast the 20-year life of a project. In the long-term, he said a solar project is a good investment, providing clean, renewable energy and construction jobs. "It's a win-win for everyone involved," he said. As for the projects, Nagel said most of them are maintenance-free. The rooftop models are very simple and made of aluminum, glass and silicone. The ground-mount models have moving parts which could require maintenance. Twolan said this proposal is a budget item for 2012 that council will have to consider. "First, I'd like to see the results from the Oct. 6 provincial election," he said. "This is an excellent report," said Hanna. "It's very professional." However, he noted the Green Energy Act dictates that proponents of solar power receive 80 cents per kilowatt-hour for rooftop solar panels, and 64 cents per kilowatt-hour for ground-mount models.
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"We're not in the business of passing on this cost to the consumers," he said. Jutta Splettstoesser, a township farmer and proponent of wind and solar, said the ground-mount projects are more accessible and could be damaged and have maintenance fees, while the rooftop ones are out of the way and the maintenance cost is zero. She said she went to an open house in Mississauga and the mayor there said she would like to see solar panels on every municipal building. Splettstoesser began to tell council that she has a total of 220 names on her petition supporting proper development of renewable energy, when she was cut off for referring to Hanna's dismissal of her earlier presentation about wind energy. "This is basically an information gathering night," said Twolan. "We're not going into the past. You (Splettstoesser) are not going to change Mr. Hanna's mind and we're likely not going to change yours." Splettstoesser thanked Twolan for interrupting her yet again and noted that she was, in fact, finished. Twolan said if council decides to consider a solar panel project, it would have to go to public tender. Treasurer Jodi MacArthur said council could get an application submitted and take advantage of the 80 cents per kilowatt-hour payout. "We'll have to look into this further," said Twolan. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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