MHURA shining light on city solar play

Brooks solar farm. (File photo)

A Medicine Hat ratepayer advocacy group is releasing the city’s response to concerns about the municipality’s plans to build a solar project and lack of public engagement.

The Medicine Hat Utility Ratepayer Association (MHURA) wrote to the mayor earlier this month expressing its apprehensiveness of city administration’s announcement seeking to purchase the proposed Saamis Solar project.

In response, Rochelle Pancoast, director of the city’s energy division, revealed the city approved $7 million towards the project 18 months ago during an open council meeting.

That initial dollar allotment was passed unanimously, though, no other information was provided at that time for what was then described as an energy business opportunity.

The only councillor to speak to the motion was Andy McGrogan.

“There has been a couple of multi-million-dollar projects and know that it probably seems we gloss over these and work through them. But there is the cost of doing business – this is the business side of the house,” he said during the April 3, 2023 regular council meeting. “It’s not just a blind trust. There are well articulated rationale for what’s proposed and I just want to say I support it.”

However, there were no details in the reasons for the purpose of the funds articulated at the meeting.

 In Pancoast’s response to the letter penned by MHURA president Sounantha Boss, she states, “that approval provides the source of funds for the City’s ownership interest in (Saamis Solar Project).”

 The city’s energy director said details of the commercial arrangements between the project’s current owner, DP Energy, and the city haven’t been revealed due to binding confidentiality obligations.

“In circumstances where we are unable to disclose sensitive information to the public,” wrote Pancoast, noting council’s 2023 motion, “staff rely on council as elected representatives of the public, charged with making decisions on behalf of the best interests of the community.”

City council has largely refrained from commenting on project, including by not contributing any comment in the Aug. 27 press release. The exception has been Coun. Darren Hirsch who’s spoken in favour of the project.

 In MHURA’s Sept. 3 letter, Boss indicated the organization’s intent to object to the transfer of ownership from DP Energy to the city to the Alberta Utilities Commission.

Pancoast stated at the last council meeting that more information will be provided next month.