Press release,
Tuesday, June 3, the media is invited to tour the River Run Centre’s rooftop solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, and hear about the City of Guelph’s commitment to install 1,000 solar roofs as part of the Community Energy Initiative.
The River Run Centre is one of six City-owned facilities participating in the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) microFIT program—collecting solar energy on its rooftop and converting it to electricity. Other sites include Guelph Fire Headquarters, fire halls #3 and #5, the Public Works building at 45 Municipal Street, and the Speedvale water tower, which has a solar ground mount. The City has also filed applications with the OPA to install solar arrays at nine additional sites under the Small FIT program.
About the microFIT program
The Green Energy and Green Economy Act, passed by the Ontario government on May 14, 2009, amends the Electricity Act to allow a municipality to generate up to 10 MW using a renewable energy generation facility. Previously, municipalities could only generate electricity using an independent corporation. This will allow municipalities to increase their revenue by participating in the OPA’s FIT program and selling electricity into the grid.
Under the FIT and microFIT programs, generators of renewable energy can sell electricity to the grid at a fixed price under a 20-year contract.
WHAT
Media tour of River Run Centre’s solar rooftop system
WHO
Alex Chapman, Acting Corporate Manager, Community Energy, City of Guelph
WHERE
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
Meet at The Cooperators Hall
WHEN
Tuesday, June 3 at noon
Please note: Tuesday’s tour is part of QUEST Ontario Caucus’ quarterly meeting being co-hosted by the City. QUEST (Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow) represents prominent community energy stakeholders such as municipal and regional government departments,
provincial government ministries and agencies, gas and electrical utilities, technology and service providers, the real estate sector, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions and aims to foster the growth and development of smart energy communities.