LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A project to install solar power at Fort Simpson's recreation centre could see more than 40 panels mounted on the building's south wall starting in the spring.

The number of panels is not yet finalized, nor is the size of the system, according to Arctic Energy Alliance energy management specialist Yichau Chen. Those decisions will be made after the alliance reviews quotes obtained through its request for proposals.

"At this stage, all we can confirm is we will put up a system in Fort Simpson," Chen said.

It is unclear how much the solar panel system could save the recreation centre in energy costs, since that depends on the size of the system. In the current operations and maintenance budget for recreation, Fort Simpson has allocated $137,000 to power.

Teresa Chilkowich, the regional community energy co-ordinator with Arctic Energy Alliance, said the system will likely be 10 kilowatts and installation is projected to cost between $20,000 and $34,000.

"(Panels) will be mounted on the south-facing vertical wall, fairly high up and out of harm's way but very visible on a very well-used building," Chilkowich said.

The project was recently approved through Arctic Energy Alliance's Community Government Solar Photovoltaic Project.

Chilkowich said the project is one of many to be approved under that program, which aims to cost-share with municipalities on solar energy projects.

Approval, she said, hinged on the structural integrity of the buildings in question.

"We did some selecting based on what needs (buildings) had and logistics of how panels would be mounted," she said.

Village senior administrative officer Beth Jumbo said the savings will depend on how many solar panels are installed.

"It's actually a pretty good payback," she said.

Chilkowich said materials will be purchased for the project in Arctic Energy Alliance's current fiscal year, which ends March 31. Installation will happen in the fiscal year that begins April 1.

One of the criteria for the project, she said, was that municipalities had to have put effort into making a difference with energy consumption for their buildings.

Fort Simpson met that criteria after Arctic Energy Alliance was able to gather data for its yardstick audits, which measure how a building performs.

For that, the organization needs two years of utility billing data to assess the building's performance in electricity, heating fuel and water.

"Our (people) at our Yellowknife office look at that two years of billing data and compare that information, plus the square-footage ... to other buildings of a same size and usage," Chilkowich said.

A second step communities can undertake includes a targeted energy audit, where Arctic Energy Alliance sends someone to provide specific energy-saving recommendations for a building.

Both audits are tied into the notion of energy efficiency and conservation.

"When you do more of those two things, the amount you have to put out for renewable (energy) is significantly decreased," she said.

The project's construction is expected to get underway in the spring.