The First Nations Power Authority has announced plans to build two new demonstration solar projects in the northern communities of Fond du Lac and Hatchet Lake.
The solar projects will produce power for the local school in each community.
FNPA CEO Leah Nelson Guay says since natural gas is not available in this part of the province, local facilities and residents are forced to rely on electricity for heat which is expensive.
“The average price of an electricity bill on a home in those communities is $800 a month,” she says. “The school pays excess of between $150,000 and $200,000 a year in electricity costs.”
She says by using solar power each school will save between $8,000 to $10,000 per year.
Guay also says each project is specifically tailored to the weather conditions of the individual community.
“Some of them have an automated tilt-roll tracking system that follows the angle of the sun. So you’re maximizing your face exposure to the sun on a daily basis.”
The projects were recently awarded $150,000 in funding through the federal government’s ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities Program.
Each project will cost about $300,000 to build and have a 50-kilowatt capacity.
Bullfrog Power is also a partner in the project.
Guay says FNPA is currently taking requests for proposals and they plan to have both projects in place by summer 2015.