What Alberta Municipalities are doing to promote Green Energy...
As a recommendation from the Pembina Institute's Greening the Grid report, 12 Municipalities in Alberta have already called upon the Alberta Government to strike up a Renewable Energy Task Force.
The people of Alberta want to build the green energy economy. Now we just need the political will of our governments to ensure this necessary progress occurs.
Alberta Municipalities are already making steps towards building the Green Energy Economy. Here are some examples:
Calgary
Commencing 2001 September 1, Calgary Transit entered into a partnership with ENMAX and Vision Quest Windelectric Inc. to develop a program (Ride the Wind) that uses wind-generated electricity to power the CTrains.
There are 12 windmills located in Southern Alberta that generate the wind-power. The equivalent amount of power used by the CTrain is sent to the main power grid. The windmills generate this power.
Although the CTrain itself does not produce CO2 emissions, the supply of electricity used for CTrain traction power used to originate from coal or natural gas powered facilities that do produce greenhouse gases.
See also The City of Calgary Sustainable, Environmental and Ethical Procurement Policy
Edmonton
Edmonton has recently struck its own Renewable Energy Task Force. The Task Force is to develop and deliver a report to the City of Edmonton that examines the opportunities, barriers and potential technical, economic, and policy solutions to the generation and use of renewable energy in Edmonton.
See the Edmonton Renewable Energy Task Force website...
The Way We Green is another City of Edmonton inititiative to create a new long-term plan that moves Edmonton toward the City's 30-year Vision and its 10-year strategic goals. The new strategic environmental plan will strive to make Edmonton a national leader in setting and achieving the highest standards of environmental preservation and sustainability—both in City operations and by encouraging and enabling the practices of citizens, businesses and institutions.
Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat offers several programs designed to create green investments. You can find a few of their programs online at - www.hatsmart.ca. Have a look at the Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy sections. Some of them include:
- Solar Water Heating – HAT Smart incentive of $3,000
- Solar Electric – HAT Smart incentive of $6,000
Commercial Incentive Program
- HAT Smart will fund 50% of the installed cost associated with:
- Solar Thermal - solar water heating, solar air heating
- Renewable Electricity - solar photovoltaic, wind power
The Alberta Solar Municipal Showcase
Website provides info on energy generated and kg of GHG emissions avoided.
All municipalities had a 1kW photovoltaic system installed.
o Sports Arena, Black Diamond, AB
- Installed a 1.8 kW solar array and a 1.2 kW wind turbine
o Cayley School, M.O. Foothills (?)
- Windmill and solar panels
- Installed December 18, 2007
o Meadows Fire Station, Edmonton
- 1 kW photovoltaic system on the roof
- Installed July 28, 2009
- In keeping with the City’s Sustainable Building Policy
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