Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Jean Marie River (Sep 16/05) - With power costs spiking across the North, scientists hope an experimental solar project in Jean Marie River could reduce the sky-high cost of providing electricity to isolated communities.

Nearly $15,000 worth of photo-voltaic panels - which convert sunlight into electrical energy - will be installed later this month in the Mackenzie Valley community of 250.

Perched on the rooftops of the band office and a newly-built home, the eight panels will generate about 1.8 kilowatts of power - enough juice to power 18 100-watt light bulbs.

That should be enough to power an entire household, said Mike Phelan, an innovation specialist with the non-profit Arctic Energy Alliance.

The organization has worked closely with the territorial government and community members on the experiment.

All sides hope solar panels will reduce Jean Marie River's reliance on the diesel generator that provides the community with power.

"We are curious," said Chief Fred Norwegian. "We are pretty much at the mercy of the (fuel) markets. Anything that could reduce our energy costs would be welcome."

Like dozens of settlements across the North, Jean Marie River is not connected to an outside electrical grid, Phelan said. That makes it extremely expensive to produce power; commercial rates in Jean Marie River are 20 times higher than Calgary.

"It is expensive to run a light bulb in Jean Marie River," Phelan said.

The experiment will track whether the photo-voltaic cells reduce power bills enough to cover their lofty price tag. "What may not be financially feasible in places like Calgary, might be up here," said Phelan.

The solar panels will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions - which scientists believe contribute to global warming - by 1.5 tonnes annually as Jean Marie River becomes less reliant on its diesel generator, Phelan predicted.

Norwegian said his community has not received the solar panels, though they are scheduled to be delivered later this month.

They will be the first photo-voltaic cells installed in Jean Marie River, he said. Even with the notoriously short northern winter days, Phelan said the panels should get a boost from sunlight reflecting off the snow.

Electricity also conducts better in cold temperatures, though Phelan said the buildings would probably still rely partially on diesel power.