Province announces solar energy projects to be constructed in southeast Alberta
CALGARY — The provincial government has announced another significant investment in solar energy in southern Alberta.
Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, announced in Calgary on Friday that Canadian Solar Inc. has been awarded a 20-year contract to supply the provincial government with solar power. The company will be constructing three new facilities in Hays, Tilley and Jenner for more than $100 million. The three facilities will be capable of providing 146,431 megawatt hours of electricity per year to the province’s electricity grid once online in 2021, and they will provide 94 megawatts of power during peak hours.
Once completed, solar energy will be providing 55 per cent of the province’s annual electricity needs.
“This is a big financial win for Albertans,” said Phillips. “The Government of Alberta will pay an average of 4.8 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity generated by these new facilities. This will make it the most cost-effective solar power in Canadian history.