KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK FRIDAY
LOCAL NEWS
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Progress 2018
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WEEKEND WEATHER Sun and clouds High 11 C Low 0 C
Report on t Economic Developmen
BREAST IS BEST
PROGRESS 2018
Breastfeeding Art Expo will begin on April 5
KTW’s annual report on business is included with today’s paper
ARTS/A23
30 CENTS AT NEWSSTANDS
GOING SOLAR
TANT IS CHANGE THE CONSTraw in talks City CAO David hall about a restructured city
6
TRU is maturing 58 We ask, they answer Growth at the TIB
28, 42, 50
26
77 MW
97 MW
Upper Nicola band project would be the largest in British Columbia, but the rest of Western Canada has big plans, too. GRAPHIC SEAN BRADY/KTW
12 MW
1 MW LARGEST BUILT IN B.C.
SunMine Solar Project Kimberley, B.C. $5.3 million Status: Online
15 MW
E.L. Smith (EPCOR) Edmonton, Alta. $32 million (est.) Status: Proposed
17 MW LARGEST BUILT IN ALTA.
1 MW = 1 MEGAWATT = 1,000,000 WATTS
Upper Nicola Band Near Quilchena, B.C. $35 million (est.) Status: Proposed
Brooks 1 Brooks, Alta. $33.7 million Status: Online
Vulcan Solar Project Vulcan, Alta. $155 million (est.) Status: Proposed
Sarnia Enbridge Sarnia, Ont. $400 million Status: Online
10 MW
2,662 MW Solar capacity in Canada (2016) NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA
SaskPower Saskatchewan (TBD) TBD Status: Planned
79,245 MW Hydroelectric capacity in Canada (2015)
(Goal of 60 MW by the year 2021)
NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA
BAND HOPES SUN SHINES ON SOLAR PROJECT SEAN BRADY
STAFF REPORTER
sbrady@kamloopsthisweek.com
The Upper Nicola Indian Band will put to referendum a decision on whether to sign over land for the development of a solar farm and other projects to be determined. In partnership with Fortis, which the band chose after assessing 29 requested proposals, the development arm of Upper Nicola is looking to use
200 acres of reserve land to build a 15-megawatt solar farm that would provide enough electricity to power 5,000 homes. The project is expected to cost between $30 million and $40 million and include 56,000 solar modules. If approved by the band’s 480 eligible voters in the April 16 referendum, a final investment decision would be made in November. If it is a go, construction would start in March 2019 and the project would be connected to the
grid in October 2019. If constructed, the project would be the largest solar installation in the province, dwarfing the current largest in Kimberley, a one-megawatt project built at the site of the former Sullivan Mine. In Alberta, where the government is pushing for more renewable energy projects, the largest solar facility is in Brooks — a 17-megawatt installation completed in December 2017 with a budget similar to the proposed Upper Nicola project.
Upper Nicola Development Corporation CEO Peter Hilton said that under the Indian Act, before private development can begin, band land must be transferred to the development corporation. The referendum will seek permission from band members to do so. Splitting costs and revenues evenly with Fortis, Hilton said he is expecting revenue of about $2 million each per year, with a break-even point
of roughly 11 years. While Hilton said BC Hydro has committed to buying electricity generated by the solar power plant, rates are still being negotiated. The project, which is approximately 50 minutes driving distance south of Kamloops, is expected to last 40 years, though Hilton said some panels may need to be replaced sooner as they lose their effectiveness. See BAND WILL VOTE, A6
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