It checks all the boxes, and after about half an hour behind closed doors, Arnprior Council added its approval to the concept.
A municipally-owned energy supplier, Alectra, wants to partner with the Algonquins of Ontario and Kruger Energy to fill 40-50 acres of the Arnprior Airport with solar panels. Why?
That’s Kevin Whyte, spokesperson for Alectra Energy, owned by a consortium of Southern Ontario municipal partners. He says demand in the Province is shooting way up based on lifestyle changes.
Whyte says, remember the oppressive heatwave in August? Ontario didn’t have enough domestic energy to run everyone’s ACs all at once.
The Independent System Operator is planning for this, and are looking for projects to boost the juice.
There’s a nearby location to link to the grid, so Alectra believes the Arnprior Airport is the ideal venue to produce ten megawatts of solar.
If successful, the project would pay a divided to the host municipality over a twenty-year timeframe.
Further, Josee Rochon accompanied Whyte to Town Council Monday with important backing.
Rochon says generating power is a good project for the coming generations.
The presentation received the endorsement of Arnprior Town Council after members emerged from closed-door discussion.
The IESO is to decide next month on a list of successful projects.
If the one in Arnprior is deemed viable, construction could begin next June, with the solar farm operational in 2028.
By Rick Stow
