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Two Hills Centennial Arena Receives $985,000 in Grant Funding
Two Hills Centennial Arena Receives $985,000 in Grant Funding
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
Nearly $1.5 million will be spent on sustainable upgrades at the Two Hills Centennial Arena in the coming months’ thanks largely in part to a provincial government grant.
On Feb. 13, the Two Hills & District Agricultural Society announced the approval of its Community Facility Enhancement Program large grant application, securing $985,000 in funding for a comprehensive green initiative at the Two Hills Centennial Arena.
The other portion of funding, estimated to be between $400,000 and $500,000 will be supplied by the Town of Two Hills, stated Chief Administrative Officer Adam Kozakiewicz. He said the Town of Two Hills is applying for other grant funding, but will likely have to come up with that amount of money to have all the upgrades completed before next season.
The upgrades will include: replacement of the existing Freon-based ice plant with a 100 TR system for the season ice rink and combined curling facility. The new system features Mycom M compressors and is driven by ammonia, a natural refrigerant, which provides three to 10 percent better efficiency than Freon. Additionally, the traditional ammonia evaporative condenser eliminates the secondary glycol condenser loop, enhancing overall efficiency and safety.
Another upgrade will a 313.9k Wp Ground-Mounted Tracker Solar Project. This includes: design, permitting, procurement, installation and commissioning of the solar project. The installation of a 100 KW Level 3 Dual Charging Station is also part of this phase.
Accordingly, the proposed solar photovoltaic (PV) system is expected to generate 454 MWh per year, covering approximately 95 per cent of the arena’s historical annual consumption. Compared to a fixed-tilt system, the tracker system offers an additional 25 percent of annual generation, broadening the daily generation profile and optimizing energy savings.
Kozakiewicz estimates that with all of the upgrades, a savings of between $30,000 and $50,000 per year will be realized.
Lorna Tupechka, representing the Two Hills & District Agricultural Society, expressed gratitude for the grant approval. “We are incredibly grateful for the support from the Alberta government. This funding will allow us to make much needed upgrades to the arena, ensuring it remains a cornerstone of our community for years to come.”
Tupechka added that the Ag Society will be working alongside the town to get the project going as soon as possible. “The arena and curling rink are used on a regular basis, and this project is needed to keep these facilities running into the future.”
Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk reacted to the news by stating, “I was thrilled to learn that the Two Hills and District Agricultural Society has been approved for the CFEP Large Grant for the amount of $985,000. This funding will go towards a new and much needed ice plant for the Two Hills Centennial Arena.”
