City, Garden River First Nation partner to deliver solar energy information webinar

Looking to bring solar energy into your home or business but don't know where to start? 

The City of Sault Ste. Marie and Garden River First Nation are partnering up to offer a webinar on the subject next month. 

The free, one-hour webinar is set to take place on May 11 from 4-5 p.m. and "aligns with Garden River’s Indigenous Community Energy Plan and the City’s Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan 2020 - 2030. Both plans recommend increasing renewable energy generation, including solar," a news release from the city states. 

The event will feature local solar energy experts to provide an overview of the benefits of solar energy and current and future opportunities.

For more information see the full release below: 

Want to incorporate solar energy into your home or businesses but are not sure where to start? Following last years’ successful energy literacy webinar series, the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Garden River First Nation will deliver a solar energy information webinar. The webinar will take place Wednesday, May 11, 2022, from 4 – 5 p.m. and aligns with Garden River’s Indigenous Community Energy Plan and the City’s Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan 2020 - 2030. Both plans recommend increasing renewable energy generation, including solar.  

Solar can be used to provide lighting, heat for buildings and to produce electricity. It can also empower businesses and homeowners to generate their own zero-carbon electricity and plays a key role in enabling the decarbonization of transportation and industrial processes. 

The free 1-hour webinar will feature local solar energy experts who will provide an overview of the benefits of solar energy and current and future opportunities. Participants will learn how to proceed with a solar project including technical considerations and residential funding opportunities. Speakers include Heliene, the PUC, Algoma Energy Solutions, and Kieran O’Neill, a local energy advisor. Garden River First Nation will also discuss their solar projects, both past and current.  

“Moving away from fossil fuels and incorporating renewable energy into our energy mix is a key part of reducing our energy-related carbon dioxide emissions” said Emily Cormier, Sustainability Coordinator with the City of Sault Ste. Marie. “Renewables, such as solar have the potential to transform our energy systems and our planet in the fight against climate change”. 

“Garden River First Nation has been working on a series of initiatives to reduce the cost of energy in the community resulting in our Indigenous Community Energy Plan” said Kristy Sayers, Energy Advisor with Garden River First Nation. “The plan implementation, which includes increasing solar energy, will lead our community towards a low-cost and reliable energy future to continue reducing our carbon footprint as a First Nation.”  

To register for the webinar, please click here or contact Emily Cormier at 705-989-8748 or email [email protected].