Calgary to explore financial incentives for solar farms on vacant land

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A movement by one councilor to debate incentivizing low-carbon investments was accepted by Calgary Metropolis Council, with some adjustments to the unique movement.

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Shovel. Evan Spencer filed a discover of movement that will have approved metropolis administration to barter with ATCO about incentives on two photo voltaic farms they’re constructing in his ward.

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The photo voltaic farms are constructed on what is named brownfield land. The land is contaminated by earlier industrial use and coated with a layer of clay. Whereas the websites can’t be used for nearly another growth, they can be utilized for photo voltaic farms, which don’t disturb the land.

The Deerfoot venture, at 114th Avenue and 52nd Road SE, will produce 37 megawatts whereas the Barlow venture, at Barlow Path and 114 Avenue SE, will produce 27 megawatts.

The Barlow website is predicted to be accomplished this spring whereas the Deerfoot photo voltaic farm must be up and working later in 2023.

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Sixty different brownfield websites inside Calgary may turn into photo voltaic farms, councilor says

Spencer’s movement drew criticism early on, with council members expressing concern that particular incentives weren’t wanted on this case because the venture was already underway.

“That is one thing that ATCO has already undertaken,” mentioned Coun. Kourtney Penner. “And so clearly they’ve carried out it with out an incentive. Though I feel we will be taught from ATCO and be taught from discussions with them about what we will do sooner or later.”

Spencer mentioned he tries to have a look at the larger image, noting the town has targets to supply 40 p.c of its energy from renewable sources by 2050. He mentioned about 60 different brownfield websites are situated within the metropolis that might host photo voltaic farms.

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“When you concentrate on all of the privately owned land on the fringes of our metropolis, it is simply sitting there ready for growth,” he mentioned. “With an incentive program, we would be capable to tip the size to the purpose the place a developer greenlights a low-carbon photo voltaic plant on that land as a result of they know they don’t seem to be going to develop it for 30 to 40 years.”

Metropolis will take a look at utilizing ATCO venture as a pilot for future incentive applications

Carolyn Bowen, director of local weather and setting on the metropolis, mentioned the town is already exploring several types of incentives, and never simply monetary. She mentioned processing incentives, which velocity up the allowing course of, are one instance of this.

“It could possibly be rebates, it could possibly be grants,” she mentioned. “We will take a look at tax-based incentives. So it seems to be … throughout the spectrum of incentivize low-carbon growth or inexperienced economic system.”

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The ultimate movement dialed again the decision for “negotiations” instantly with ATCO. Reasonably, it calls on metropolis administration to discover its brownfield photo voltaic tasks as a pilot for future incentive applications on brownfield websites. Administration should report again to council with really helpful choices and subsequent steps earlier than July.

“They are going to need to do a reasonably broad scope,” Spencer mentioned. “That is work that we heard that (administration) would have completed ultimately, however now they’ll do it a little bit sooner, and so they’ll come again with suggestions.”

The amended movement handed 7-4 with councilors Dan McLean, Richard Pootmans, Jennifer Wyness and Sean Chu towards. Mayor Jyoti Gondek and councilors Sonya Sharp and Andre Chabot had been absent for the vote.

brthomas@postmedia.com
Twitter: @brodie_thomas