Bright Future Ahead for Town of Viking

Bright Future Ahead for Town of Viking

 Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

The Alberta Utilities Commission gave its official stamp of approval to the proposed Valhalla Solar Farm on Aug. 16. Three days later, the project’s proponent, PACE Canada and Town of Viking went public with news of the $14 Million project.

Claude Mindorff, Director of Strategy for PACE Canada, said that while it was a shame the project was delayed due to the Province’s moratorium on renewables, “However, looking forward, by this time next year, Viking will realize the environmental, economic and social benefits of more renewable energy in its community, and that’s a win for us all.”

Mindorff claims that few opportunities remain to use the existing distribution infrastructure. When coupled with a battery energy storage system, these projects can make communities like Viking energy resilient using a non-wired approach and at a savings to ratepayers.

Town of Viking Chief Administrative Officer Doug Lefsrud welcomes the project. He said, “The Town of Viking has been working towards creating more economic diversification in our community by encouraging business concepts like the PACE solar farm to come to Viking. This new project will bring a welcome economic boost to our community as we have a low commercial tax base, like other small communities in our region, who rely on their residential tax base heavily.”

He believes it could open the door to future projects; perhaps offshoots in relation to other water related projects or even hydrogen production. Lefsrud said one of the things he’d like the town to be recognized for is being progressive and forward thinking and to let people know they are open for business and looking to create other new and exciting opportunities in the future.

Lefsrud said the Town of Viking has been working with PACE for about the past year and a half on the proposed 9-Megawatt solar power project which will be located on the east boundary of the municipality. He noted that the project will be further east from the Town of Viking’s existing 1.05 Megawatt solar farm on land adjacent to the transfer station.

“The area the solar farm will be located is land that is zoned commercial/agricultural, but also adjacent to very low land, that in wet years is under water. This land makes it an ideal location for the PACE project,” added Lefsrud.

According to Mindorff, the Valhalla Solar Farm project is one of seven rural-urban projects. “These projects create opportunities to use existing infrastructure while bolstering Alberta’s struggling rural economies…That’s the case with Viking. The 9 Megawatt project will be built on the Town’s waste transfer station lands, a project well suited to the surrounding land characteristics.”

Lefsrud said, “The $14 million project will benefit the town through the lease agreement as well as municipal taxes. “The lease agreement is for a 30 year period with options to renegotiate every five years. This lease agreement is for 80 acres is estimated to be around $65,000 yearly. The 9 Megawatt solar farm estimated project cost is $14 million with a yearly municipal tax being around $275,000 to $300,000.” He noted that, the revenue will be used for upgrading infrastructure in the town.