Village of Keremeos begins solar power installation

The Village of Keremeos has begun the first phase of a split solar power installation project. The initiative involves installing 32 panels near the municipal building parking lot as part of a 30-kilowatt project. A second phase will see 16 panels installed at the village’s public works yard.

The project structure changed after FortisBC declined to approve the original configuration, which would have placed all 48 panels at the municipal building. This adjustment resulted in a $5,000 cost increase, bringing the total expected cost to $69,000. Despite the increase, the project remains within the $75,000 provided by the Local Government Climate Action Program grant.

This installation follows a separate 40-kW solar project that became operational at the village's wastewater treatment plant in June, which is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 0.3 to 0.4 tonnes annually.