Mayor John Borrowman and Banff-Cochrane MLA Cam Westhead unveiled Canmore’s solution to cutting nearly 44 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions yearly from civic centre operations on Saturday (May 27).
Taking advantage of $35,000 in provincial funding rebates provided to municipalities, local Canmore solar company KCP Energy installed 192 solar panels on the civic centre roof.
The total cost of the solar project was just over $124,000, generates 68,000 kilowatt hours of energy and is expected to reduce the cost of energy annually by over 20 per cent.
“Our town has a long history of environmental leadership, and this solar installation is yet another exciting milestone,” said Borrowman. “The power of the sun is something we can, and should, harness.”
The new solar array complements an existing solar thermal power system installed on the civic centre roof in 2009, and, after Banff Elementary School, is the largest solar system in the Bow Valley.
“Getting the opportunity to install in your home town is always special,” said KCP Energy CEO Geoff Domenico.
KCP Energy also installed the solar system on Elevation Place in 2012.
Borrowman said the town is exploring options for installing solar systems on other municipal buildings as part of the town’s commitment to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
