CANMORE – The Town of Canmore has taken note of the message from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) earlier this year and is taking meaningful action when it comes to addressing its carbon footprint.
The 2019-25 capital plan for the municipality includes an ambitious program to install as many solar panels as possible on the rooftops of five Town-owned buildings beginning with Elevation Place next year.
General manager of municipal infrastructure Michael Fark told the finance committee that the IPCC report released earlier this year has had an effect on administration’s approach to the proposed capital plan and also reflects council’s strategic priority of environmental sustainability.
The IPCC report found that climate change is occurring at a rate that is greater and more unpredictable than original modelling showed and recommended governments take more action on the issue.
“It really is now up to governments,” Fark said. “Scientists say we are at a critical phase where meaningful action needs to be taken and government needs to lead that.
“We want to demonstrate what leading on the environment would look like.”
The 2018 IPCC special report set out that warming of the climate is likely to reach 1.5 C between 2030 and 2052 and human activities are estimated to have already resulted in 1 C of global warming above pre-industrial levels.
One of the major changes administration brought forward for consideration in the six year capital plan is the maximization of solar voltaic installations on municipally owned buildings.
“One of the most effective things we can do around the environment and reduce our carbon footprint is investing in solar,” Fark said, adding there is also a cost savings in the long-term for the municipality when it comes to electricity bills. “Investing in solar is a significant hedge against future increases to energy costs, which you can imagine are going to continue to increase.”
While Elevation Place, the Canmore Seniors Centre and Waste Management Centre all have some solar installed currently, the plan would be to put as many solar panels on each rooftop.
The budget includes $430,000 in 2019 for Elevation Place, and $360,000 in 2020 for the Seniors Centre, artsPlace and the Roundhouse.
There is also a proposed solar power addition to the system for the Waste Management Centre as part of the proposed new $2.7 million organic waste diversion program.
In all, the five projects would add 1,145 solar panels to municipal structures to produce an estimated 430,971 kWh of energy, offsetting overall electrical needs by 20 per cent and providing a lifetime reduction of greenhouse gases of 8,834 tonnes.
“We believe this follows up and is consistent with council’s commitment to make energy sustainability one of their priorities and we think this is a cost effective way to do that with added financial benefit for the Town,” Fark said.
On Tuesday (Dec. 4), council approved its municipal climate change action plan, which included using solar energy to power municipal
buildings.
Mayor John Borrowman noted that the Town of Canmore is showing political leadership at the municipal level with these planned projects and the long-term climate action plan.
“This is a 20 or 30 year action plan,” noted Borrowman. “We in the community haev talked a lot about the urgent need to address climate change and as we have been noting it really comes down to political leadership, particularly at the municipal level.
“If we can get behind this all other municipal leaders can and maybe we will get to where we should get to as a species.”
