A new solar farm expected to cost nearly $70 million is expected to provide more than 60 per cent of the electricity needed by Summerside, P.E.I.
The 21-megawatt solar farm and battery storage facility will improve the energy efficiency of the community while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 21,000 tonnes per year.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $26.3 million, the Government of Prince Edward Island is contributing nearly $22 million while the City of Summerside providing the balance of the funding.
Construction of the farm is expected to begin in the spring and take between 18 and 24 months, creating about 200 jobs.
“The people of Summerside and P.E.I. are showing remarkable Canadian leadership on clean, renewable energy,” says Catherine McKenna, federal minister of infrastructure and communities.
“To make real change for our environment, we need to work together to empower our communities to be innovative in sustainability solutions that work for them,” says Steven Myers, P.E.I. minister of transportation, infrastructure and energy.