Calgary councillor proposes providing incentives for ATCO solar farm projects
Ward 12 Coun. Evan Spencer is seeking city council's approval to provide incentives to ATCO along with other companies considering the development of solar farms or low-carbon projects in Calgary.
ATCO currently has two solar farms nearing completion on brownfield land in an industrial park near 114th Avenue S.E. that it purchased the rights to build on in September 2021.
Collectively, the sites along Barlow and Deerfoot trails aim to generate 64 megawatts of energy for Alberta's grid, which is enough to power 18,000 homes and offset 68,000 tonnes of carbon annually.
In total, the installations account for 175,000 bifacial solar panels that cover the equivalent of 170 Canadian football fields.
Spencer has since put forward a notice of motion to call on council to support the projects through incentives that could come in the form of charging a lower property tax rate for a solar farm site.
"There's an opportunity to optimize this project and to really ensure that future projects like this are incentivized to see Calgary as a viable future," the councillor said.
"This exercise of removing the barriers and optimizing what this can do for the city and what it can provide for Calgarians, this low-carbon future will not be the last. This is a first step and ATCO is the catalyst."
The motion was reviewed for technical merit and approved this week by a vote of 10-3.
Councillors Andre Chabot, Dan McLean and Sean Chu voted against moving it ahead for debate.
Spencer says he's calling on administration to look at a variety of different incentives, but said it's too early to say if the city is ready to give any sort of tax break at this time.
Darcy Fedorchuk, ATCO vice-president of North American power and renewables, says the Barlow Solar Park will be operational by May and the Deerfoot Solar Park is projected to be up and running by the fourth quarter of this year.
He says incentive partnerships with the city will open the door to more projects, including 60 vacant spaces that could be transformed into renewable energy.
"We've been in conversation with the city for about a year now on the potential changes on a property tax that can enable a long-term competitive basis for the city to utilize lands just like this for future renewable developers," said Fedorchuk.
"There are additional projects like this, lands very similar to this, which do exist in the city to continue down that path of decarbonisation, meeting specific climate strategy goals and responding to the consumers in the province with now a low-carbon, low-cost energy source."
The idea of providing incentives for for-profit companies like ATCO is not sitting well with some council members.
Chabot, who represents Ward 10, is skeptical of this proposal, noting there's no need for Calgary taxpayers to provide support for utility companies.
"Worst of all, this is a for-profit company and talking about using Calgary property tax dollars to support a for-profit utility of all things to me just seems over the top," he said.
"There is a way for companies to actually get credits or money from users or purchasers of electricity to offset some of their carbon footprint, if you will, or carbon costs that they have to pay. So there is a subsidy from that respect, as well as if you're producing green energy, you can typically negotiate a higher price for your green energy with companies just because of the fact that it's green energy."
Chabot also questioned whether offering incentives or any sort of financial assistance for utility companies could potentially encourage them to walk away from responsibilities for contaminated sites in the future.
ATCO's two solar farms are located on contaminated land that was previously used by a fertilizer company.
"I'm concerned, putting solar panels on top of a contaminated site is equivalent to sweeping the contamination under the proverbial solar-panel rug," Chabot said
Council has scheduled Spencer's notice of motion for debate at its next meeting on Feb. 14.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.