City Notebook: Solar questions arise in Canada’s sunniest city

By Collin Gallant on July 27, 2024.

As far as next steps for the Saamis Solar Park are concerned, the private company behind the proposal to build a 600,000-panel, 1,600-acre power plant on land north of Crescent Heights, isn’t yet talking about them.

But if history is any indication there’s another deal in the works before Hatters see concrete poured or piles driven.

There’s a class of green power developers who scope out, develop and get approval for projects ahead of a sale. Others contract a portion of the production in order to arrange financing for construction.

The Times of Ireland reported Friday that Cork-based Saamis developer DP Energy is the latter, and construction could kick off in early 2025.

Two similar projects developed by DP (also on former fertilizer plant sites leased by Viterra) were sold to Atco before built and operated by the privately owned utility giant.

In the case of Medicine Hat’s other private sector renewable project – the WindRiver turbines north of the CF plant (remember them?) – the city itself contracted the power on a 20-year basis ending in 2032.

Only then did ATB come in with the financing for WindRiver after seeing a stable revenue plan.

Is the city still in that market, willing to buy offsets for its sizable carbon footprint?

Or, maybe has something changed from last year when energy officials and the mayor told the News the City of Medicine Hat is an energy company that builds and operates its own assets.

Both possibilities raise important questions, and a clean energy plan is in the works for the division, due sometime after an overall division review is done.

Are answers coming earlier than that?

Good question.

Jasper

Hatters appear understanding of Premier Danielle Smith’s decision to skip the Medicine Hat Stampede this week in favour of being in Edmonton as the province battles a wildfire situation.

It’s not like elected officials drive water trucks or roll up hoses, or really even call the shots in such situations, but to be out two-steppin’ when thousands of Albertans are evacuated is the wrong move.

In similar but opposite fashion, Rachel Notley got roasted in the Hat for not visiting the city during her first year in the premier’s office.

It was eventually revealed a planned visit was quietly scrubbed in May that year in light of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire.

Water

Just when you thought it was safe to water your lawn, there’s new strain on the water system across the province – much like what was predicted before a rainy spring.

Yes, reservoirs filled in early July, but there’s little water coming in behind it from the snow melt in the mountains.

It might be manageable for most, but the situation is getting dire in places.

The oft-repeated line about the drought of 2001 was that you could have walked across the Milk River in cowboy boots and not got your feet wet.

This year it might be tennis shoes.

A look ahead

City hall enters its traditional two-week summer break from council and committee work, but the case of Clark v. City of Medicine Hat will be heard Aug. 13 in Calgary. City council’s next regular meeting is Aug. 19.

100 years ago

The 1924 Stampede and Fair showcased sensational trapeze stunts, four-hour rodeo, first-rate stock show and headline entertainers “the Lenora Steppers,” a 10-person dance act fresh off appearance on the Paris stage, the News promoted in Aug. 5, 1924.

Amid drought and abandoned homesteads in the Bow Island region, corn was touted as “the salvation of the region,” by touring Dept. of Agriculture officials in Manyberries.

City council voted 4-3 against entering into a deep oil exploration agreement with a U.S. firm.

A pilot in Reno was killed at the funeral of a friend when his plane burst into flames while flying low in order to drop a wreath in the open grave at an appointed moment in the service. “A number of women fainted,” the report concluded.

Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com.