Kensington Place Apartments go solar, starting next week

NEWS RELEASE

INNOVATION CENTRE SAULT STE. MARIE

****************************** Superior Energy Solutions announces solar panel installation with the first OPA microFIT contract in Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre incubator client Superior Energy Solutions will begin rooftop solar panel installations in April

SAULT STE. MARIE - (March 31) - Superior Energy Solutions announced today that they will begin installation of Sault Ste. Marie’s first grid tied solar project during the first week of April.

This significant project is also the first in Sault Ste. Marie to be installed and operated under the Ontario Power Authority (OPA)’s microFIT contract.

Located at Kensington Place Apartments, the solar photovoltaic (PV) installations will produce approximately 12,000 kilowatts (kWh) of power while reducing 202 tons of CO2 – the equivalent to 1, 095, 593 km in a small car – over the next 25 years.

“We are very excited to be announcing the first OPA microFIT contract project in Sault Ste. Marie and can’t wait to begin the installation process next week,” said Ted Curry, president, Superior Energy Solutions. “The Green Energy Act passed last spring and the feed-in tariff program (FIT) launched by the Ontario Power Authority will provide the foundation for long term growth in the solar industry in Ontario. Now, commercial businesses and home owners can invest in renewable energy generation with a very attractive rate of return backed by a 20-year contract with the OPA. Generating clean energy that reduces carbon emissions while having the power company pay you is driving economic development in the north and Sault Ste. Marie. There are many economic and environmental advantages to the community of local generation, distribution and consumption of energy generated from roof top solar systems. We are very encouraged by the response to the program and proud to be a part of the next generation of energy generation.”

The start of the rooftop solar panel installations is a significant step for Sault Ste. Marie which declared itself the alternative energy capital of North America in 2008.

The project will also be on a remote monitored system on SooToday.com where the entire community can watch the progress of this historic first project.

Superior Energy Solutions is based out of Sault Ste. Marie and has been an incubator client of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) since 2008.

“We would like to congratulate Superior Energy Solutions on this important step forward for their business and for Sault Ste. Marie,” said Tom Vair, executive director, SSMIC. “This announcement continues the momentum for our alternative energy sector and we look forward to the development of many more rooftop solar projects in the near future.”

Launched in October 2009, the OPA’s microFIT program is the first feed-in-tariff (FIT) program of its kind in North America.

Modeled after many European FIT programs, the OPA’s program is specifically tailored to Ontario’s electricity system and situation.

The microFIT program is intended for small or “micro” renewable electricity generation projects of 10 kW or less in size.

Under the program, the OPA pays a guaranteed price over a 20-year term for all of the electricity the project produces and delivers to the province’s electricity grid.

The program is intended to encourage the development of “microscale” renewable energy projects across the province.

With its domestic content requirements, the OPA’s microFIT program can potentially help create new local businesses and green jobs with the rise in demand for alternative energy technologies.

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