Amherst approves $256,000 solar project at stadium

AMHERST, N.S. — Amherst is continuing to work toward becoming one of Nova Scotia’s greenest communities.

Town council recently passed a motion to spend $256,491 and associated project costs to Thermo Dynamics Ltd. to place solar panels on the roof of Amherst Stadium.

The solar power generated from these panels will be sold to Nova Scotia Power through a 20-year power purchase agreement that will create a new source of revenue for the town and provide more renewable energy for the power grid.

“It’s a really great program and I’m so pleased and proud of the town for taking a leadership role in promoting the use of greener sources of energy,” Coun. Jason Blanch said. “When you think of 75 kilowatts on the roof of the stadium and then 30 or 40 on the roof of the fire department and police station, it’s a big step. And the county’s doing the same thing. It’s a significant step toward creating a greener community.”

Amherst is completing the project through the Solar Electricity for Community Buildings Program that enables community groups and organizations to generate up to 75 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic electricity on their roofs or properties and sell it to their utility under a 20-year contract. The estimated annual output is 123,000 kilowatt hours.

The program is run by the provincial Energy and Mines Department in partnership with Clean Nova Scotia.

Andrew Fisher, Amherst’s manager of planning and strategic initiatives, said installing the panels on the stadium’s roof should begin in March 2020, depending on the weather, and the plan is for the panels to be producing power by October.

The project is expected to bring in approximately $551,000 in revenue over 20 years with $118,000 in net profit.