The Town of Sexsmith’s solar panel farm is already starting to pay itself off.
The solar panel farm first became operational in October of 2020. Mayor of the town, Kate Potter says the town has roughly two years remaining to pay off the panels. However, with the current production coming from the solar farm, it pays off the cost it’s self.
“Because we sell all of our power back to the grid, it offsets not only our cost, but then helps us pay for the actual panels themselves.”
“This sets up long-term sustainability for us as a community, Both financially with having many being generated by selling back power, but also it saves us money on our electricity costs.”
Potter added that once the project is paid off, the solar power farm will be a dividend for the town.
“Going forward into the future, once the project is completely paid for it will contune to be a dividend for the town, and generating that financal benefit.”
The solar panels currently sit on a former landfill, but Potter says you wouldn’t even be able to notice.
“It’s land that can’t be used for a lot of different things, and so you wouldn’t know it is a landfill because its beautfuil and green.”
The panels are also 99 per cent recyclable with a 40 year life span.
The project costed an approximate $1.8 millon.
