“We knew at the time we had to give back in some way. We had to reinvest, we had to diversify because all of our eggs were in that one basket, which was natural gas,” says Clugston.
They started an energy conservation and renewable energy program called “Hat Smart.” And from 2008 to June 2014 they’ve handed out almost $4 million dollars in rebates for things like energy-efficient refrigerators, air conditioners and energy audits. The money has also helped build over 100 different small-scale solar power projects.
But this one-megawatt concentrated solar thermal plant — this was something else entirely. And while it won’t have its official ribbon cutting until June 21 of 2015, by the time you read this they should be generating power at the plant on a test basis.
“The difference between thermal and photovoltaic is sometimes hard for people to grasp. The best way I get people to understand this project is I say "When you were a kid and you had a magnifying glass, and you focused it and you burnt ants. Well, that's what this is,"" says Clugston.
And while this is the farthest north that a concentrated solar thermal project has ever been built, solar makes sense in Medicine Hat. As Clugston reminds us, Medicine Hat is the sunniest city in Canada, receiving more direct sunlight annually than Miami, Florida.
more
88. Canada's first concentrated solar thermal plant | Green Energy Futures
They started an energy conservation and renewable energy program called “Hat Smart.” And from 2008 to June 2014 they’ve handed out almost $4 million dollars in rebates for things like energy-efficient refrigerators, air conditioners and energy audits. The money has also helped build over 100 different small-scale solar power projects.
But this one-megawatt concentrated solar thermal plant — this was something else entirely. And while it won’t have its official ribbon cutting until June 21 of 2015, by the time you read this they should be generating power at the plant on a test basis.
“The difference between thermal and photovoltaic is sometimes hard for people to grasp. The best way I get people to understand this project is I say "When you were a kid and you had a magnifying glass, and you focused it and you burnt ants. Well, that's what this is,"" says Clugston.
And while this is the farthest north that a concentrated solar thermal project has ever been built, solar makes sense in Medicine Hat. As Clugston reminds us, Medicine Hat is the sunniest city in Canada, receiving more direct sunlight annually than Miami, Florida.
more
88. Canada's first concentrated solar thermal plant | Green Energy Futures
