The Metropolis of Winnipeg will quickly attempt to goal new areas to generate solar energy, with the purpose of utilizing inexperienced vitality in civic buildings.
A brand new movement headed to the water, waste and surroundings committee calls on the general public service to establish properties owned by the town which might be appropriate for the manufacturing of solar energy and full a enterprise case to will develop as much as one megawatt of renewable vitality technology to be used within the metropolis.
“(The report will decide) whether or not we will do it economically and the place we will do it economically. The concept just isn’t a lot to promote (the ability) again to the grid for revenue however to make use of it for our personal buildings,” stated Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the committee.
equipped Lorena Mitchell, chairwoman of the Manitoba Sustainable Vitality Affiliation, stated the town must be a pacesetter find inexperienced vitality sources.
Mayes, who raised the movement, stated that the report may also assist decide the potential prices, advantages and financial savings that the town can have by including photo voltaic initiatives.
“It is an try and say, ‘Can we do one thing cost-effective right here to make use of inexperienced vitality?'” he stated. “We have now massive arenas that use lots of vitality. Can we attempt to coordinate one thing there?”
The councilor stated the decision to search out inexperienced vitality sources is according to an election promise from Mayor Scott Gillingham. His marketing campaign has set a purpose for Winnipeg to construct “no less than” one megawatt of renewable vitality technology capability by 2026.
Mayes’ movement additionally calls on the town to find out whether or not it may possibly companion with Winnipeg’s faculty divisions on solar energy efforts. For instance, the town might use extra electrical energy from division-based photo voltaic initiatives or collaborate on new initiatives within the divisions, he stated.
Mayes stated a photo voltaic venture is already underneath development at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé, which is subsequent to the city-owned Louis Riel Library, and a separate proposal so as to add some solar energy to JH Bruns Collegiate, which subsequent to the town-owned Southdale Group. Middle, he’s satisfied the town ought to discover that possibility.
“These two initiatives are proper subsequent to the town buildings… Should not we attempt to work with the college divisions and perhaps we will do one thing collectively?” stated Mayes.
Lorena Mitchell, chairwoman of the Manitoba Sustainable Vitality Affiliation, stated the town must be a pacesetter find inexperienced vitality sources.
“Having greater entities just like the Metropolis of Winnipeg placing their greatest foot ahead and displaying that they are keen to implement methods that work in the direction of (inexperienced energy), it is good to see that they are taking it critically ,” Mitchell stated.
Whereas Manitoba depends closely on hydroelectric energy, Mitchell stated it is essential that governments diversify vitality provides to assist them deal with local weather change. As excessive climate occasions change into extra widespread, akin to extreme winter storms that knock out hydro energy for 1000’s of consumers without delay, he believes photo voltaic vitality sources have the potential to create a backup vitality provide.
“We face an increasing number of … excessive climate occasions, and leaping from drought one yr to (flooding) the following … I believe we have to strengthen our grid and make it much less weak,” Mitchell stated.
That is particularly essential in and round Winnipeg, the place energy outages can knock out heating sources throughout doubtlessly lethal chilly climate, he stated. (Manitoba Hydro’s web site notes that the majority pure fuel furnaces nonetheless require electrical energy to function.)
Mitchell stated different energy sources will be prioritized for areas akin to excessive climate shelters to assist higher shield individuals throughout chilly temperatures.
If the water and waste committee approves the solar energy movement on Friday, a report on potential technology websites will are available in about six months.
joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to inform the tales of the town, particularly when politics are concerned. Joyanne turned a metropolis corridor reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.
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