The Town of Minto is searching for supporters of renewable energy.
The municipality is seeking 50 citizens to join a green energy co-op in order to facilitate its application for the provincial government’s Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program.
The town wants to install five solar panels on municipal property, including Minto’s three arenas, the Palmerston industrial park and the municipal works shed at the administration centre.
However, CAO Bill White explained at the Dec. 18 council meeting, the program has basically been on hold since the last election, as potential applicants waited for new regulations to be released.
White noted the new rules were finally released on Dec. 14 at 9:30pm “on a Friday night.” Under the new rules, applications must be submitted by Jan. 18.
“So that gives everyone across the province about a month,” White pointed out.
The new rules also require the formation of a green energy co-op, consisting of at least 50 residents of the town, who have lived in the municipality for at least two years. The co-op must meet at least once before Jan. 18 to sign a resolution supporting the town’s bid for a contract under the FIT program.
White said co-op members are required to pay a $10 fee and “basically support green energy.” Members will also be invited to invest in the energy program, in return for a share of the proceeds of the income from energy sales.
White noted investment in the program is optional for co-op members.
“The only reason you would do it now is to support green energy and our bid,” he said.
If all five of their solar panel applications were approved, the town stands to make about $100,000 per year in “rent” as the host of the solar panel units.
Deputy mayor Terry Fisk asked if all applications were guaranteed to be approved.
“Definitely not,” replied White, suggesting, “The deadlines were made tight in order to eliminate people who aren’t’ serious.”
Mayor George Bridge suggested the province may be hoping not to get a large number of applications.
“I think they decided they wouldn’t actually cancel the program, they just made it so difficult that not many would apply,” said Bridge.
White noted, “The potential payoff to us is huge.” However, he pointed out, “We won’t get anything if we don’t have a co-op.”
White said staff will be contacting people who may be interested in joining a green energy co-op to provide information. Anyone interested is also welcome to contact the town, he said.
