By Nigel Maxwell

2 Northern schools to receive solar panels

Mar 18, 2015 | 6:34 AM

Father Megret Elementary School on Hatchet Lake First Nation and Father Gamache Memorial School in Fond-du-Lac have been selected for a special project — solar panels will be installed at the two schools this year.

Last year, the First Nations Power Authority (FNPA) received funding from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) to install two roof-mounted 64 kilowatt solar photovoltaic power systems.

“Really the goal of FNPA is to work with First Nations members to identify economic development opportunities in the power sector and that’s either the avoidance of power usage or the investment into power projects,’ said Ian Loughran, FNPA vice-president of projects and business development.

Loughran said both communities are members of the FNPA and had mentioned the rising costs of electricity in their communities. 

“On average, residential is about $300 to $500 per month, but there are mistakes made and sometimes they go way up high to [$]5,000 or even higher,” said Anne Robillard, chief operating officer of Hatchet Lake Development Limited Partnership.

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Robillard said the solar panels should be installed in time for the next school year and the projects will likely become a part of the school curriculum.

“Those things are unique and they will be something that will be noticeable for sure,” she said.

The contract for the project has been awarded to Points Athabasca Contracting Limited Partnership, in partnership with Solar Logix.

Additional funding for the project was received from the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada and AANDC’s Community Readiness Program, as well as from FNPA Strategic Partner Bullfrog Power.

The total cost of the project is $580,080.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell