The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield remains committed to its Strategic Priority of Infrastructure and Climate Adaptation.
Mayor Merrifield was pleased to discuss impacts of climate change on Grand Bay-Westfield, and how the Town continues to look for sustainable options, with the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB). To read the Q&A with Mayor Merrifield, view pages 20-22 HERE.
Real time data for the Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Solar Array
Visit HERE for real time data for the Town’s Solar Array located at the wastewater treatment facility. This data includes the following information:
Current Power: This displays the current amount of electricity being produced by the solar array in real time.
Energy Balance Today: This charts the hourly power production from the solar array each day.
Earning: This displays the relative amount of money saved on the Town’s purchase of electricity from NB Power for the wastewater treatment plant. Note: Information will scroll through Day/Month/Year/Since Inception.
CO2 (Greenhouse Gas) Savings Total: This displays the total reduction in Greenhouse Gas saved by producing electricity from the solar array. Note: Information will scroll through equivalents of kilograms of Greenhouse Gas not produced/Number of trees saved from harvest/Number of kilometers not driven by vehicles.
Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Solar Array Project
November 16, 2022: Solar Array Project complete at the Grand Bay-Westfield wastewater treatment facility
The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield remains committed to its strategic priority of Infrastructure and Climate Adaptation, by taking action against climate change.
The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Solar Array Project at the Town’s wastewater treatment facility was officially commissioned on November 16, 2022.
At the Council meeting of May 24, 2022, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Council awarded a contract to The Smart Energy Company to complete a 70kW solar array with the addition of four (4) NOREASTER® solar arrays located at the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Facility on Shannon Road.
The cost of the Solar Array Project including the Pilot Project is approximately $400,000.
The Smart Energy Company has completed the Town’s Solar Array Project, which is sized to produce approximately 90,000 kWh or about 40 per cent of the power used by the facility annually, removing the equivalent of 28 tonnes of carbon per year. It will achieve up to 70 per cent of the Town’s Corporate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction targets as adopted in the Town’s 2018 Corporate GHG and Energy Action Plan.
“The Smart Energy Company is very proud to have been selected by the Town of Grand Bay-Westfield to be part of their Climate Action Plans with solar energy generation.” – Jeff McAloon, Chief Revenue Officer of The Smart Energy Company. “In addition to reducing their carbon footprint, the Town is supporting the local economy with a solar system designed, manufactured and constructed locally.”
The positive environment impacts of the Project over its projected lifetime will result in the saving of 687,885 kg of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. This is equivalent to eliminating 6,273,234 kms travelled by passenger vehicles, the growth of 26,827 tree seedlings or the preservation of 19,077 hectares of forest harvesting for one year.
“As a riverside community which has been directly impacted by the effects of climate change, the Town remains dedicated to environmental leadership now, and for our future generations.” – Mayor Brittany Merrifield, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield
The Town’s Solar Array Project is a NOREASTER® solar system. To learn more about this and The Smart Energy Company, visit here.
August 12, 2022: Solar Array Project continues at the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Facility
The Smart Energy Company has completed the initial site preparation of the Town’s Solar Array Project, and has recently started installing solar panels.
Next steps include completing the installation of the solar panels, followed by the necessary electrical components.
Work will continue through the summer, with the Project remaining on schedule to be fully operational by September 2022.
The Town’s Solar Array Project is a NOREASTER® solar system. This Canadian solar energy solution was built and designed in our climate, for our climate. Whatever the weather condition, the NOREASTER® can withstand everything Canada throws at it.
June 23, 2022: Installation of Solar Array Project Underway
At the Council meeting of May 24, 2022, Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Council awarded a contract to The Smart Energy Company to complete a 70kW solar array at the Town’s sanitary sewerage lagoon on Shannon Road.
Work is now underway with the initial site preparation adjacent to the existing 5.28kW pilot project, which was completed in 2021.
This project is sized to produce approximately one quarter of the power used by the facility annually. It will also reduce up to 70 per cent of our corporate greenhouse gas reduction targets from the Town’s 2015 Climate Adaptation Plan.
“Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Council are committed to the strategic priority of Infrastructure Sustainability and Climate Adaptation. As a riverside community which has been directly impacted by the effects of climate change, the Town remains dedicated to environmental leadership now and for our future generations.” – Mayor Brittany Merrifield.
Work will continue through the summer, with the system fully operational by September 2022.
To view the Council meeting of May 24, visit the Town’s YouTube channel here. (Solar Array was addressed at the 28:30 minute mark of the Council meeting).
To view the Administrative Report, visit here.
June 10, 2021: Grand Bay-Westfield Installs Solar Array at Sanitary Lagoon
The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield is pleased to announce the installation of a 5.28 kW solar array at our Sanitary Sewerage Lagoon located at 33 Shannon Road. This Pilot Project will test the functionality of a greater 95 kW project to be sized to power almost half of the operations at the lagoon. Solar energy is a perfect match for the lagoon, where energy consumption is higher in the summer months when the solar cells will produce the most energy. The Town has engaged The Smart Energy Company to design, install and track energy production at the site. This project will promote The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield’s commitment to environmentally responsible behavior by utilizing clean energy from the sun to treat the lagoon’s effluent that returns to the St. John River as clean water.
The Town has consistently undertaken Energy Saving Projects since the early 2000s, performing Energy Audits for Municipal building retrofits, and test projects with NB Power to install an Electric Thermal Mass Energy Storage Unit, piloted LED street lights to test LED lights to be used around the province, installation of an EV Electric Vehicle Charger at the Brundage Point River Centre; and participates in annual Power Shift Events to reduce PEAK Demand Load between 7 am and 9 am on days with extreme cold weather events.
“On behalf of the Council of the Town of Grand Bay-Westfield, we are committed to safeguarding our environment for our families and our children’s children to enjoy. The environment we leave our future generations remains one of our most abiding challenges and priorities. We are very proud of this work and commit to continued environmental leadership now and to the future.” Mayor Brittany Merrifield
The Town’s Climate Change Action Plan adopted in 2019 has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 38 eCO2 (t) per year by 2025, and this Solar Project at the Town’s Lagoon site will help meet this GHG reduction target.
