Residents of North America's first-ever solar-energy residential community are worried about the program's future.
Okotoks' Drake Landing Solar Community has been the subject of international attention, including winning prestigious energy awards in countries like Austria and Germany. It is considered the first solar-powered community in North America.
Drake Landing's international recognition could come to an end soon, however, as homeowners were recently notified that the solar heating system has been experiencing major issues and may be discontinued.
"I think it's ridiculous, honestly," said concerned homeowner Ryan Johnson, who moved to Drake Landing because of the community's lauded solar energy program.
"We bought this place because it's solar-heated, and the fact that they just want to walk away from it, and what, we're going to go back to natural gas? There's no incentive for people to continue to live in these houses then."
According to the Drake Landing Solar Community's website, "an array of 800 solar panels located on garage roofs throughout the community" generates the energy that powers the 52 homes in the subdivision.
After the community's innovative solar project commenced in 2006 and officially launched in 2007, the systems are apparently beginning to fail, putting Drake Landing's future as a solar-powered community in jeopardy.
"The whole system needs to be updated," said Johnson. "It's almost 20 years old. They need to upgrade all the solar panels. The furnaces work all right. They don't really have to do a lot to that, but if you're going to do anything, upgrade the solar panels and fix the problems.
"Everybody's super concerned about this. We bought these houses for that. Our bills are cheaper, our lifestyle is solid, and there isn't a tremendous amount of problems with the system."
Johnson said homes in the area were designed to run on the intricately-designed solar energy program, and that converting to natural gas usage would be problematic.
"It's just, this is a real hardship to the 52 houses here, honestly," he said. "There's nothing more to it. It's just a hardship to everybody living in this community. The people here aren't quadrillionaires, you know, who's got all the money to put a new furnace into their house?"
Another resident of Drake Landing, who did not want to be named, said the provincial and federal governments need to step in.
"I just don't understand why the government won't fund green energy projects," said the concerned resident, "especially when we keep raising this carbon tax. Not even just the carbon tax, just the cost of natural gas in this province is insane and unnecessary.
"You know, they've been taxing us on that for how many years now? What has been done with that carbon tax (revenue)? They should be going to fund things like this, should it not? Green energy projects like we have here, that is not being funded, that is now being closed."
Similar to Johnson, the resident moved to Drake Landing for the solar energy program and is disappointed it might come to an end.
"We moved here because of this. We weren't told that it was going to be dismantled. We found out shortly after we moved in. It's frustrating because that's the main reason why we moved into this was for the green energy."
In response to these concerns, the Western Wheel received a statement from the Drake Landing Company, which is comprised of four stakeholders: the Town of Okotoks, utility company ATCO, homebuilder Sterling Homes and property developer Anthem United.
The statement by the Drake Landing Company board states that "the Drake Landing project has been a successful venture, heating homes with solar thermal energy since 2006" but that "the system has begun to show signs of failure. And with the comfort, safety and well-being of residents in mind, the board has worked hard over the last year and a half to find affordable and reliable solutions to these growing system performance issues.
"This includes sourcing parts and technical experts on almost 20-year-old technology to continue its future viability. Ultimately, the board aims to make the best possible decision for the community."
The statement compared fixing the solar systems to "why trying to fit a 2024 engine part into a 2006 car isn't particularly feasible, as solar technology has improved over time, mechanisms that could interface with the old technology are become [sic] fewer and fewer."
Ultimately, the Drake Landing Company's statement does not delve into specific solutions to the energy situation, but notes that a lack of funding, coupled with difficulty accessing appropriate materials and technicians capable of installing them to fix the failing systems, are major factors being considered during the board's decision-making process.
The statement added that it aims to communicate its decision on the future of heating and power in the community before next winter, and that "while next steps at Drake Landing are still being determined, it is imperative – and the board’s intention – to communicate with homeowners first and foremost on next steps."
