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Solar panels are being installed on the roof of the Fredericton YMCA building to power four kilometres of walking trails.
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Through the newly announced Tara and Terry Community Solar Project, a 100-kilowatt rooftop solar array will also help power YMCA’s childcare operations.
In a joint press release, the YMCA of Fredericton and the Fredericton Trails Coalition unveiled the project, expected to be completed by the end of this month.
“The usage on the lit parts actually this past winter, when it gets dark at five o’clock, has just skyrocketed,” trail group vice president André Arseneault.
The total cost of the solar installation is expected to be $168,500, with help from a $64,000 investment from the Regional Development Corporation.
“Under the partnership, the YMCA will own and maintain the solar array, while the Fredericton Trails Coalition will contribute to the project’s capital funding. Both organizations will share in the energy savings and environmental benefits, furthering their shared commitment to environmental stewardship and long-term community improvement,” according to a news release announcing the project.
The YMCA will own 60 kilowatts of the array while the trails coalition owns the remaining 40 kilowatts.
Arseneault said the Y will use its share of funding from the panels to reduce monthly utility bills, and the coalition will receive compensation for the power its panels generate, creating a permanent funding stream for future projects.
“One hundred per cent of the revenue they generate, we’re going to put back into the trails,” he said.
Arseneault said plans are already being considered for a second solar array to support the city’s ultimate goal of seven kilometres of lit trails.
“This is more than just a solar project,” Darcy Delaney, CEO of the YMCA of Fredericton, said in the news release. “It’s a model of how two community organizations can come together to make an immediate, measurable impact on the environment while supporting healthier, more sustainable spaces for families and residents.”
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