The Memorial Sports Centre will receive a roof full of solar panels that has the potential to generate savings on power costs after only a year and a half of use.
Recognizing that the multi-use complex is the most energy-intensive building operated by the Town of Fort Frances, the town began planning to install solar panels on the sports centre in 2023 to help offset costs associated with its high electrical demand. An application was submitted to the federal Green and Inclusive Community Building (GICB) fund, requesting government assistance for the construction of a 500 kW rooftop panel system.
“I would really like to see it functional by the end of the year,” Infrastructure and Growth Manager Travis Rob told The Times.
“However, in the world of electrical components, sometimes things can be very long delivery. I don’t have a good enough line on what is out there and available for equipment and what sort of delays we might experience in securing it. But I’m hoping—fingers crossed—that everything is ready to roll by the end of the year.”
The total cost for this project is estimated at $1.3 million; however, the town is receiving both federal and provincial grants to help cover the expense.
The GICB fund will cover $589,762 of the overall project, along with $483,406 in funding from the provincial level. This leaves the town on the hook to make up the estimated $226,832 difference, which will be drawn from the Corporate Projects Reserve Fund.
Rob expects that after around a year and a half, the town will be on the positive side from the cost of installing to the costs saved from solar power.
“That’s roughly what we’re expecting, but we’re only at the design stage,” he said. “I have an estimate of what installations are going to cost, but I don’t know exactly what it’s going to cost yet.”
The Memorial Sports Centre solar panel project is planned to be put out for tender with the town reviewing bids from contractors in early September.
