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By Tanner Smith

Powering Zone 3 Reservoir & Pump Station

Aquatera now using solar panels to cut down on costs

Dec 15, 2023 | 6:00 AM

A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place at Aquatera’s Zone 3 Reservoir and Pump Station located on Grande Prairie’s north side on Thursday, December 14.

The ceremony was held to officially open the new solar power project at the pump station, which is expected to generate approximately 80 per cent of the power used by the facility.

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Aquatera CEO for Vaughn Bend says not only will these panels lower emissions from that station, but benefit the residents in this region as well, by investing in the Peace.

“Is there an opportunity for us to try to control our destiny a bit more, and make some investments in our region instead of paying for somebody else’s assets somewhere else? Let’s invest in our region.”

“Power was one of the things that came first to mind, because we could partner with a local company, and put a significant investment in the region.”

Empower Energy was contracted to install the panels, with Vaughn saying they “gave them some tight deadlines to have the panels drawing power before the start of the new year, but of course they came through. “

Bend added that Aquatera is “essentially” owned by the city and municipalities, with all the money they generate, staying inside the community.

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As environmental impacts and renewable energies are hot-button topics right now, Bend says this is Aqautera’s way of slowly moving into that conversation and making it a priority in 2024, along with growing local assets in that sector.

Bend adds they are very supportive of Alberta, and believe a combination of technologies is what’s going to get Alberta to a net-zero economy, “in due time.”

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Bend also says there is a lot of potential for more of these solar projects in the region.

“So, we have plans, this (the Pump Station solar panels) is probably about 50 per cent of the potential projects, I’d say probably more around 25 per cent. So there’s probably another three to four projects this size or larger that are possible in the region.”

Currently, these panels are already drawing power, in hopes of lowering some of these inflationary costs lots of residents are seeing on their bills.

Anyone wanting more information about this project, or Aqautera Utilities, can visit their website.

Photo Courtesy EverythingGP