The location of a solar energy project to be constructed on the toe of Cartwright Mountain has divided members Summerland council.
At a meeting on July 13, council voted 4-3 to approve the site at 13500 Prairie Valley Rd., 12591 Morrow St. and Denike Street for the community害羞草研究所檚 solar energy storage project.
Due to the COVID-19 protocols, only 50 people, including council, staff and members of the public, were allowed in the Summerland Arena Banquet Room at any time. The meeting was also available for livestream viewing online through the District of Summerland YouTube channel, .
The solar project has been discussed for several years and there have been 11 presentations about it.
The project, with an estimated cost of between $6 million and $7 million, would have 3,200 solar panels. The array would have an estimated lifespan of 35 years while the storage batteries are expected to last 20 years.
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Tami Rothery, sustainability and alternative energy coordinator for Summerland, said multiple sites were selected before the municipally owned property on Cartwright Mountain was selected.
The land is in the municipality害羞草研究所檚 Urban Growth Area but is not considered an ideal location for future residential or commercial development because of its distance from downtown, schools and other community infrastructure.
The site has generated mixed reactions from council as well as from the community.
Members of the public spoke at the meeting, wrote letters and sent in petitions with their concerns and objections.
Petitions alone had 174 names attached.
害羞草研究所淚t is a lot of money and will benefit very few residents,害羞草研究所� said Diane Colman Ambery, adding that this year, as Summerland and the world cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not a time for additional expenses.
害羞草研究所淭his is something extra that the town does not need and barely will benefit from,害羞草研究所� said Lauren Antonovitch.
Ian McIntosh said the land proposed for the site is in the municipality害羞草研究所檚 Urban Growth Area and represents close to 20 per cent of the property base earmarked for future urban growth.
Diana Smith said spending money of this project is irresponsible, since the municipality of Summerland has a budget shortfall of $3.2 million this year.
Jai Zachary of ElectroMotion Energy in Summerland described the project as 害羞草研究所渁ntiquated technology.害羞草研究所�
Don Gayton outlined several concerns about the location, including the affects of the location on development sprawl.
Others voiced support for the solar project.
害羞草研究所淲e should and can help to lessen the peak demand on our supply utilities by managing some of the peak load needs with this project,害羞草研究所� said Mike Brandson. 害羞草研究所淭he project is an important step towards Summerland becoming a carbon neutral community,害羞草研究所� said Barry Loewen.
Coun. Doug Patan suggested selling the land for housing and using the money to benefit the community.
害羞草研究所淚 think the solar project is a great project, but not at the toe of Cartwright,害羞草研究所� he said.
Coun. Martin Van Alphen said other sites near the Cartwright Mountain site would be better suited to the solar project.
Coun. Richard Barkwill said the site is ideal for housing development instead of for the solar project.
害羞草研究所淚 think we should take advantage of this opportunity while it害羞草研究所檚 here. If we don害羞草研究所檛, this opportunity will pass us by,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Doug Holmes.
Coun. Erin Trainer also voiced support for the proposal as presented. 害羞草研究所淚 believe it is the best fit for this project,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淭he prospect of an affordable housing project in this area could absolutely not happen,害羞草研究所� said Mayor Toni Boot.
Grant funding covers more than 85 per cent of the total cost of the solar project.
The site for the solar project was approved with Barkwill, Patan and Van Alphen opposed.
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