Pod set to construct massive solar energy farm in the Sault
Jan. 8, 2010
Sault Ste. Marie now has more evidence to support its claim of being the Alternative Energy Capital of North America.
Pod Generating Group secured financing and land for its massive solar energy farm in the city, the company announced Jan. 7. The first 20 megawatts of the project is expected to be in operation this summer and will generate enough electricity to power 8,000 homes.
“Given the level of support we have received from local stakeholders . . . we are sure that this municipality will maintain its leadership role in the design, manufacture and production of alternative energy,” said Glen Martin, President and Chief Operating Officer of Pod Generating Group.
When complete, the solar farm will be one of the largest of its kind in the country.
“That it happened here is a great achievement for the economic development (spirit) in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Bradford Nordholm, CEO and Managing Director of Starwood Energy Group, which provided financing for the project. “I’m very, very impressed with the attitude I’ve seen here.”
Under the Ontario Power Authority's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP), the provincial government is purchasing Pod’s electricity at a guaranteed rate for 20 years. The goal of the program is to promote alternative energy production in the province. Pod is a prime example of achieving this objective.
“This project will clean up our air, reduce our reliance on fossil fuel and (help prevent) global warming,” said local MPP David Orazietti.
Along with the environmental benefits, this solar project will also create jobs in Sault Ste. Marie in fields like construction and electrical trades, engineering, operations, and maintenance.
“This is a very, very important step forward for our economy,” said Orazietti. “It’s fantastic news for the community.”
Meanwhile, Development Sault Ste. Marie, a division of the SSM Economic Development Corporation, has been supporting Pod for a number of years on things like land acquisition and government regulations.
John Febbraro, the division’s Acting Executive Director, used the iceberg analogy when describing his dealings with Pod and other clients.
“Most of what we do is behind the scenes,” he said. “Our relationship with Pod illustrates this. It took more than two years to get this project off the ground, and during that time, with worked very closely with the company and the various government agencies involved. Starting such a cutting-edge initiative can be a tough process, and we’re here to help them along the way.”
This help has not gone unnoticed.
“Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, they were available,” said Pod CEO David Livingston, who attributed the recent announcement to the “forward thinking” mentality of City Council and the City staff team, the province, SSM Innovation Centre and and Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation.
Along with securing this massive solar farm, Sault Ste. Marie is also home to:
• The 189-megawatt Prince Wind Farm, the largest wind energy farm in Canada
• Five hydroelectric stations with a 203-megawatt capacity
• A 70-megawatt cogeneration power project at Essar Steel Algoma
• Elementa Group’s pilot project to convert municipal garbage into a clean synthetic gas
• A cutting-edge tire recycling initiative from Ellsin Environmental
• SITTM Technologies, which is working to produce biodiesel from used vegetable oil and other feedstock
Together, these projects led City Council to declare the Sault The Alternative Energy Capital of North America in 2008.
Councillor Steve Butland, Co-Chair of the City’s Environmental Initiatives Committee, is proud of the progress of the community’s Green sector in recent years. Pod’s solar announcement is another link in the city’s alternative energy spoke, he said. “This is part of a bright future for Sault Ste. Marie.”
Butland also gave kudos to the SSM Economic Development Corporation for working with Pod and other companies to establish operations in the Sault.
“When you follow a project from beginning to end,” you can see the EDC’s involvement, he said.
The recent solar announcement “is proof that they are doing a great job for Sault Ste. Marie,” added Butland.
The turn-key solar project, including operations and maintenance services, is being delivered by Q-Cells International Canada, an affiliate of Q-Cells SE, one of the world’s largest photovoltaic companies.
Video of the announcement is available here.
PHOTO: Councillor Steve Butland (right) speaks at the Jan. 7 solar announcement while Development Sault Ste. Marie's John Febbraro looks on.
PHOTO: At the Jan. 7 announcement (L to R): Sault MPP David Orazietti; Glen Martin, President and COO of Pod Generating Group; Bradford Nordholm, CEO of Starwood Energy Group; and Pod CEO David Livingston.
PHOTO: Posing at the Jan. 7 press conference (L to R): John Febbraro, Acting Executive Director of Development Sault Ste. Marie, a division of the SSM Economic Development Corporation; David Carroll, Project Manager for Q-Cells International; Boris Schubert, President of Q-Cells International; Bruce Strapp, CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation; and Tom Vair, Executive Director of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre.
PHOTO: Fielding questions from the press (L to R): Bradford Nordholm, CEO & Managing Director of Starwood Energy Group; David Livingston, Chief Executive Officer of Pod Generating Group; Himanshu Saxena, Vice-President of Starwood Energy Group; Boris Schubert, President of Q-Cells International; and Vinod Mukani, Senior Director of Structured Finance for Nord/LB's New York Branch.