A proposal for a 10-megawatt solar farm here has received support from town council.
Council passed a resolution of support for the proposal after hearing from Jeff Allen, chief operating officer of First Ontario Energy at the March 19 meeting.
First Ontario Energy and Bondfield Construction are planning to apply under the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) FIT program for approval for a 10 megawatt solar farm on leased property between the 16th Line and Given Road in Minto.
Allen told the council the company is also in talks with landowners for property to locate a 15-megawatt facility in the Palmerston area.
The company requested a resolution of support from council, as municipal support is one of the factors in the approval process.
Allen said the 10MW facility would be capable of generating enough electricity to power 1,200 homes.
He said the Minto project is one of several his company is working on in the area.
“We have already approved in a 30-mile radius with West Grey, South Bruce, Morris-Turnberry and Brockton township, a series of farms. It’s a very competitive business we’re in. We’re going to build about a hundred megawatts of solar farms in the area, which will bring an awful lot of employment; I can’t say specifically to your township, but there’s an opportunity across the township.”
Each solar farm will be a $35-million to $40-million project, said Allen, noting that means over $400 million worth of construction will be coming to the area if the projects are all approved.
“One thing I’m very happy about, the more solar farms we have, the less capacity for those little things that turn in the air, which I know are not too popular up this way. I’m pretty impressed that these townships who do have those issues have been supporting us on our solar farms.”
An information package provided to council indicated the solar farm will create “significant employment opportunities during the build out.
“A general rule of thumb is that a 10-megawatt solar farm build out will create over 100,000 man hours of skilled labour over an eight-month construction period. That should translate into 50 to 80 jobs for construction. The local hospitality economy will also benefit because of the size of the labour force it will take to build out a solar farm of this size. It will then need a staff for ongoing maintenance over the 20-year commissioned operation.”
Allen also noted the solar farms will be subject to stringent site requirements.
Provincial regulations restrict solar farms developments to Class 4 farmland. Regulations will also require a visual buffer outside the fenceline to protect any properties from which the property owners can “physically see the solar farm.” The lowest growth of the buffer trees must be at the height of the solar panels.
Councilllor Ron Elliott asked Allen when he anticipates the project would get underway.
Allen explained that the OPA haven’t yet opened the window for submissions.
“So right now we’re dotting I’s and crossing T’s. We will make application to the OPA when they open it.”
Deputy mayor Terry Fisk asked Allen about the tax implications for the municipality.
Allen explained that financial department staff at a nearby municipality estimated that, “based on their mill rate,” the farms, which would be classified as industrial, would generate between $12,000 and $14,000 annually in taxes to the municipality
In a report to council, CAO Bill White noted council’s resolution supporting the project is for the sole purpose of enabling the applicant to receive priority points under the FIT program “and may not be used for the purpose of any other form of municipal approval.”
