Business View Magazine | May 2020

39 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MAY 2020 Some illustrations of these principles in Canada: The Town of Raymond, Alberta, powers nine municipal buildings and all of its street lights with 729 kW of solar panels installed with help from a grant obtained through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre. The panels are currently leased from Calgary power utility Enmax, but when the 15-year lease expires, the town will own its own power utility. The City of Calgary, with help from the Government of Alberta, has undertaken numerous projects to improve flood resilience since severe flooding in 2013. Projects include upgrades to the Glenmore Dam, Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant and Roxboro Sanitary Lift Station, as well as adding new pump stations, stormwater outfall gates and flood barriers. The Town of Gibsons, British Columbia, established a municipal asset management policy that defines and recognizes the value of natural assets and creates specific obligations to operate, maintain and protect natural assets alongside traditional capital assets. The town determined that its woodlands, creeks and ponds provide the vital service of conveying and treating rainwater run-off. In order to maintain these services, the town paid $45,000 for an initial assessment and $15,000 for general maintenance and pond dredging every three years. In contrast, providing the same stormwater management services through engineered assets were estimated to cost 3.5 to 4 million dollars. In Manitoba, Fisher River Cree Nation’s utility- scale solar farm provides revenue for the community while also helping community members develop specialized skills. The project was designed and managed by an Indigenous- owned firm that specializes in solar, wind and renewable energy systems, and construction included members of Fisher River Cree Nation. An agreement with Manitoba Hydro enables Fisher River to sell the energy generated by the array to the energy utility. CANADI AN PUBL I C WORKS ASSOC I AT ION (CPWA)