Home »
B.C.’s sunniest city named 33rd Solar Community
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
The City of Cranbrook is officially the 33rd Solar Community in British Columbia, following an announcement by SolarBC at the Canadian Rockies International Airport (CRIA) today – Earth Day 2013.
The announcement was made on the roof of the airport terminal building where solar panels are preheating the water for use inside the facility – a successful city solar project that has been in operation since October 2012. Most of Cranbrook city council took part in the announcement, along with local media and CRIA officials.
The City of Cranbrook and SolarBC signed a partnership agreement in late November 2012, which commits the City to work toward being less reliant on fossil fuels by finding new ways to utilize solar energy in municipal buildings and operations.
“The solar revolution is arriving across the world,” said Guy Dauncey, founder of the BC Sustainable Energy Association, which operates SolarBC. “B.C.’s Solar Communities are laying the foundation for a solar future, as prices continue to fall.”
Cranbrook has completed a number of other solar initiatives including: amendments to the zoning bylaw to allow the installation of solar energy devices; signing onto the BC Solar Hot Water Ready Regulation and added a solar-powered street light and water sprinkler timer location where grid electricity is not available.
“Cranbrook receives an average of 2,228.6 hours of sunshine annually, more than any other city in British Columbia,” says Mayor Wayne Stetski. “Nationally, based on Environment Canada’s airport weather stations, we rank 13th for sunshine, just behind Winnipeg and just ahead of Kamloops. Being recognized as the sunniest city in B.C. is important for tourism and for future economic development based on alternative energy opportunities, and is one more reason to celebrate living in this great city.”
SolarBC’s mandate is to make solar hot water (SHW) an accessible, affordable and practical energy solution for citizens and communities across the province. In the first three years of operation, SolarBC’s strategic focus has been to help transform British Columbia’s solar market, bringing SHW systems to homes, communities, local governments, social housing, First Nations’ homes and schools.
After bestowing Cranbrook as a Solar Community, Dauncey enthused about the limitless potential of solar power, noting there is currently a solar-powered airplane making its way around the world.
Standing atop the airport, with the Rockies shimmering brightly to the east thanks to the appropriately cloudless sky, Dauncey noted, “In the eight or so minutes we’ve been up here, the sunlight that is just now reaching us traveled from the sun.”
City of Cranbrook/e-KNOW
