FortWhyte Alive Launches Largest Solar Installation in Winnipeg

Ocotber 12, 2017

FortWhyte Alive is unveiling the largest solar installation in the City of Winnipeg. The 60 kilowatt (kW) installation is made possible thanks to support from Bullfrog Power, Investors Group and Manitoba Hydro’s Solar Energy Program. 

“As community leaders in sustainability, we believe that harnessing solar power at FortWhyte makes perfect sense for us from both an environmental and economic perspective,” says FortWhyte Alive President and CEO, Bill Elliott. “As we face the growing challenges of climate change, we look forward to using this solar farm as a tool to educate the public on the importance of transitioning to clean, renewable energy across the globe.”

The FortWhyte Alive solar installation will generate enough carbon-free solar power to make up 50 per cent of the electricity consumed at FortWhyte Farms. In addition to the environmental benefits of the project, the solar power generated is expected to save FortWhyte Alive approximately $350,000 in energy costs during the 30-year lifespan of the panels.

“Bullfrog Power’s community renewable projects program is all about supporting clean power projects that educate people about the impacts of how we power our lives and the actions we can take on climate change,” says Ron Seftel, CEO of Bullfrog Power. “We hope the FortWhyte Alive solar project will have a meaningful impact in terms of generating both green electricity and awareness on climate change for decades to come.”

As part of its work as a social enterprise, Bullfrog Power has supported more than 130 green energy projects nationwide through its community renewable projects program. Investors Group, a bullfrogpowered organization since 2015, has a long history of community involvement, corporate funding and project initiation and is helping to support the FortWhyte Alive solar project alongside Bullfrog Power as part of its commitment to renewable energy.

“Investors Group believes in giving back to the communities where our people live and work,” says Andrea Carlson, VP Finance and Corporate Responsibility, Investors Group. “FortWhyte Alive has always focussed on helping us learn about the natural world; this solar project will showcase the clean technology we need to preserve the natural world for future generations.”