By Barbara Simpson, From www.theobserver.ca The Observer
Two solar energy projects in St. Clair Township are almost ready to switch on the juice.
Construction of the two, 20-megawatt solar farms is complete, confirmed Peter Carrie, vice-president of First Solar Development Canada. Now safety equipment is being tested, ensuring that the relays and controls to remotely access the sites are in working order.
“We are very close to completion,” said Peter Carrie, vice-president of First Solar Development Canada. “All the solar panels have been installed and we’re just in the final stages of testing and commissioning.”
Both the Moore Solar Farm, north of Rokeby Line and west of Highway 40, and the Sombra Solar Farm, south of Bentpath Line and east of Baseline Road, will each produce enough power for about 2,800 homes.
Work has been delayed at the sites for a variety of reasons over the last months. In October, the Ministry of Labour issued a stop work order after a worker received an electric shock at the Moore Solar Farm. “We worked with the Ministry of Labour and contractors to investigate the cause because it is very rare for our workers to get a shock,” Carrie said. “We took it very seriously and made sure we understand how it occurred and what measures to ensure it wouldn’t happen again.”
The stop work order only delayed electrical work for about four days.
“Most of the delays we encountered on both of these projects were a result of just weather this year,” Carrie said. “We had a lot of damp, a lot of rain, and when you’re doing the work outside, it has an affect on the schedule of course.”
The St. Clair Township projects were the first large solar farms approved through Ontario’s new Renewable Energy Approval process under the Green Energy Act.
Carrie said he wasn’t unaware of any future First Solar projects set for the Sarnia area. However, construction of the company’s 10-kilowatt Amherstburg solar farm will begin this year.
Observer Article ID# 3431417
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