Interest in bringing solar energy to the Sunshine Coast got a jolt with the screening of Powerful Energy for Everyone, the November film in the Green Film Series.
The film explores alternative energy options around the world.
After the two screenings, one in Gibsons and another in Sechelt, the audiences discussed energy options here on the Coast. Filmmaker David Chernushenko spoke to the Gibsons audience via Skype, while local speakers Michael Maser, Dennis Olson and Michael Wilson brought information on tidal, solar and wind energy to share.
The main message of the film is that we cannot wait for government to solve our energy problems. Communities must begin to take the initiative themselves and one way is to install alternative energy systems at our homes and businesses.
Olson of Olson Electric brought one of his solar panels for everyone to view. The film was made in 2011, so Olson brought everyone up-to-date with what has happened to the technology in the past few years. Cost has been greatly reduced, making it much more affordable to add solar to your system. It has also become easier to feed back into the BC Hydro grid if you wish to do so.
Olson said the cost of one of his panels is around $350. That includes its own small inverter that enables it to be hooked up directly to a home's electrical panel or it can be added to feed into an off-grid battery system. Olson is charging his customers around $3 per watt. That compares with $10 just a few years ago.
At the Sechelt screening Olson made a commitment to sell the first co-op order at his cost, which received applause from the audience.
With some concern about smart meters, people in the audience wondered if they had to have a smart meter to be able to feed back into the grid.
Olsen said no. If people had opted out for the digital meter then they can still feed back.
“Even the old meters will feed back in, "said Olson. “It's just that they go backwards very, very slowly."
A proposal to organize a solar cooperative was discussed and had a lot of support. The Transition Town Initiative and the Gibsons Green Team are currently looking into forming a solar cooperative. Joanna Zilsel is one of the organizers and she told the audience that they are in the very early stages of formulating the cooperative.
Some of the ideas they are considering include: purchasing solar panels in bulk allowing for a discounted price, forming a worker-owned investment solar cooperative that would set up a large solar array to feed into the grid and make money for the cooperative, advocating for photovoltaic installations on District buildings such as recreational buildings, municipal buildings and school buildings and setting up barn-raising events with co-op members to help install solar panels.
Around 70 people signed up as interested in the co-op. You can contact Zilsel at [email protected] for more information or to have your name added to the list.
Editor’s note: Beverly Saunders is the editor of Sustainable Coast Magazine.
