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Net metering is a simple and effective way to increase investment in renewable energy technologies without placing an excessive burden on electric service providers. Net metering offsets a customer’s electricity consumption against the electricity that customer generates.

“This is a great opportunity for government to provide assistance to our community rinks by giving them an affordable source of electrical power,” said Minister Bertram. “It will also take some pressure off the electrical grid and allow these recreational facilities to utilize green energy in a meaningful way while reducing their power costs. This project lets us bring the benefits of wind energy to the local community while supporting the rinks that are such a central part of many Island communities.”

Each project will be supported with $100,000 from the Community Component of the New Deal for Cities and Communities administered by Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, plus $80,000 from the Trust Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change administered by Environment, Energy and Forestry. Successful communities will be expected to provide $70,000 for each wind installation.

“With the cost savings provided by wind generation, we expect every community to recoup its $70,000 investment within five years,” said Minister Webster. “Net metering is a promising initiative that can help decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, clean our air emissions and contribute to the sustainability of our communities.”

The objectives of the program are to provide rink associations with the means to take responsibility for their own power production and to lower their environmental impact. Wind energy is an intermittent resource and customers may not be using the power as it is being generated. Net metering allows them to effectively store that energy without installing a battery system. This directly affects the economics and pay-back period for the generation equipment.

The Wind Energy Institute of Canada will be asked to evaluate proposals from interested communities. Projects chosen for this effort will be expected to have the full support of their communities, including residents from the area near proposed turbine sites.

Rink associations interesting in applying for this new initiative can contact the Infrastructure Secretariat at 1-888-240-4411. Information sessions will be held in January to outline the criteria for eligibility and the application process.

BACKGROUNDER

Community Rink Wind Project

The objectives of this project are to develop net-metering systems using wind turbines at community rinks in P.E.I., to demonstrate economic, environmental and social benefits of such wind turbine net-metering projects, and to promote public awareness of renewable energy and net-metering programs.

Successful communities will partner with federal and provincial governments on projects to install wind turbines for power generation at local rinks. In the late fall and winter months when the demand for rink operations is at its highest, so is our wind resource.

Successful rinks will show positive results in the areas of local wind resource, site space, noise level at the nearest residential dwellings, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, cost and saving.

The total budget for the proposed project is $250,000 per site. The proposed cost breakdown is:

• Applicant Share $ 70,000

• Eco-Trust $ 80,000

• Gas Tax Communities Fund $100,000

Interested applicants would have to apply for funding through the province, demonstrating their proposed business plan.

The Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) will work with applicants to develop a Business Plan.

Electricity potential of rink sites – Electricity generated from a 50 kW turbine can contribute up to 190 Mwh per year, equivalent to up to 84.5 per cent of an annual electricity consumption of individual community rinks.