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Energy options offered at conference

A provincial program for residents to connect and sell wind and solar power to the provincial grid was promoted during a two-day conference March 22 and 23 in Stettler.

A provincial program for residents to connect and sell wind and solar power to the provincial grid was promoted during a two-day conference March 22 and 23 in Stettler.

Opportunities for farmers to expand their power under the Alberta Micro-Generation Regulation were explained during a session at the conference Energy Options Behind the Farm Gate: Plugging into the Grid will be co-hosted by County of Stettler, County of Paintearth and the Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development at Stettler Community Hall.

“You can generate all your own electricity on your house or farm,” said Gordon Howell, of Howell-Mayhew Engineering of Edmonton.

“Yes, you can make money – you’ve got to have a large generator to make a significant profit.”

Announced in February 2008 and expiring in December 2013, the Alberta Micro-generation Regulation sets the rules that allow electricity customers to generate their own environmentally-friendly electricity and receive credit for any power they don’t use and transport it to the electricity grid.

All customers who want to become a micro-generator must apply to the Alberta Utilities Commission and their distribution company to get approval to connect and operate a generating unit.

“Safety is the most important factor in the approval process,” said Howell.

Applicants have the option to sell solely to the electricity grid or to sell it to the electric retailer.

With 60 steps to connect to the system and another 16 steps required to sell the electricity, neighbours are also given an opportunity to comment on the proposal during the application process.

To qualify as a micro-generator, the customer’s generating unit must:

• Use renewable or alternative technologies – which includes solar panels, small-scale hydro, wind, biomass, micro-cogeneration and fuel cells.

• Be sized to meet all or a portion of the customer’s electricity needs.

• Have a generating capacity smaller than one megawatt.

• Produce electricity primarily for the customer’s own use.

After notifying your distribution company of your plans, the applicant is also required to consult with an electrical contractor, acquire municipal permits and prepare a site plan.

Guidelines for the application are available on the website www.auc.ab.ca.