The provincial government of Alberta said it was looking at whether solar power could replace expiring contracts to power its buildings. Alberta’s government issued a request for information on the potential costs and the best way forward toward using solar power for half of government operations. Three contracts to power government-owned buildings are on the books, but two of those are set to expire before the end of 2017.
The government said replacing the two set to expire opens the door for potential solar energy development. If the government can take on solar instead, it said that would result in 10 times the current amount of solar energy produced in the oil-rich province. “With this request for information, Alberta is leading by example and exploring how to create an opportunity for an emerging technology, drive new innovation and diversify our electricity sector,” Minister of Infrastructure Brain Mason said in a statement.