Bullfrog Power, Canada's leading green energy provider, Peavey Mart and the Town of Vulcan, Alberta, are partnering on the launch of Canada's first solar park.
Taking place during Vulcan’s "Spock Days" event, a community celebration will be held on Saturday, June 11 at 11:30 a.m. at the Vulcan Solar Park where Tom Grant, Mayor of the Town of Vulcan, will introduce the project.
Though not originally named for the "Star Trek" planet, the Alberta town has embraced the science-fiction connection to the popular television series and is home to a convention — Vul-Con — as well as "Spock Days," an annual community event being held from June 10-12, 2016.
"The Town of Vulcan chose to build the Vulcan Solar Park — the first of its kind in Canada — around the concepts of energy efficiency, aesthetics, and energy production," said Tom Grant, Mayor, Town of Vulcan. "Thanks to the support of Bullfrog Power, Peavey Mart and our partners, this project is both generating renewable electricity and helping to educate the public on the importance of moving toward a clean energy future."
The Vulcan Solar Park, which received initial funding from the Alberta Energy Innovation Fund, is an integrated community green space and renewable energy facility that will generate 23.5 kWh of renewable electricity for the community. Similar solar parks are more common in Europe where they provide an aesthetically appealing way for the public to experience the benefits of renewable energy in their community. The design and development of the Vulcan Solar Park involved local students and the site will include learning modules on solar power to continue to educate after its completion.
"The Vulcan Solar Park is an inspiring example of what Bullfrog Power is trying to achieve with our community projects: enabling communities to build projects that both generate clean, renewable energy and start conversations about how to realize a clean energy future," said Ron Seftel, CEO, Bullfrog Power.
Peavey Mart is helping to support the Vulcan Solar Park as part of its efforts to advance community-based green power and educate the community on the benefits of renewable energy. On the day of the launch, Peavey Mart will also be hosting a community BBQ at the park in celebration of the project’s launch.
As part of its work as a social enterprise, Bullfrog Power provides financial support for the development of new green energy projects across Canada. In Alberta, recent Bullfrog Power community projects include a partnership with Montana First Nation and a solar project with the Town of Black Diamond.