As this is the first of its four projects coming to Alberta, we look forward to supporting PACE’s expanding presence in the province.” These high-impact, high-value projects are furthering Alberta’s clean energy transition and helping put Alberta on the map as a global leader in renewable energy solutions. Rick Christiaanse, CEO, Invest Alberta added, “PACE’s solar plant adds great value to Lacombe County and further builds on the opportunity for clean energy projects in rural Alberta communities. PACE has had support over the development of its operation from Invest Alberta. This clean energy project will benefit our provincial electrical grid and I look forward to future projects championed by PACE in Alberta”. Renewable energy in Alberta is growing rapidly and PACE is contributing to that growth by bringing their innovative solutions – and jobs – to our province. With access to the electrical grid just across the fence from the site we believe that this is the perfect place for the "first of its kind" project in the County” and the Honourable Ron Orr, Minister of Culture and MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka who said of the development, “PACE’s investment in Joffre and Lacombe County is truly something to be excited about. Speakers at the event included Barbara Shepherd, Reeve, Lacombe County who said, "Lacombe County welcomes PACE to our community. This project requires over CAD70m of investment and with continued government support to the growth of this sector PACE is looking to raise and deploy significant funds into the Alberta clean energy sector in the years ahead as we expand our project portfolio and technology types we are investing in’. Alberta is a key market for growth for PACE and we are excited to bring forward clean power in the region in support of the economic development of Alberta’s green economy. This is the first of a considerable pipeline of clean energy projects we are advancing that will include not just solar but also energy storage and green hydrogen as the market develops. Rob Denman, Managing Director of PACE Group and President of PACE Canada LP said, ‘PACE is delighted to announce the commencement of construction of the Joffre Solar park. We are farming two crops simultaneously - energy and agricultural production’. We are not taking arable lands out of production we are intensifying the agricultural use of them, while creating renewable energy. Land underneath the panels can create and intensify native grasslands and forage crops added to improve biological diversity. Solar and agriculture don’t need to compete but can complement one another. The development and expansion of the PACE clean energy portfolio will support Alberta’s position as a leader in Canada for clean, sustainable and affordable energy to increase its attractiveness as a location for forward thinking and climate aware companies.Ĭlaude Mindorff, Director of Development for PACE Canada says, ‘beyond the employment benefits and income contributions to farmers and the community there’s a symbiotic relationship that exists between food, energy and water. PACE relocated its operations from Vancouver to Calgary in early 2022 to support its expansion in Alberta and is hiring to expand its Alberta based development, project management and project support teams. Solar energy projects such as Joffre also creates an opportunity for diversification and certainty of revenue for the landowner as they work to innovate to adapt to impacts of climate change and increase agricultural yields from the lands under solar lease. The project will bring in considerable property tax contributions and local purchases to the municipality over the lifetime of the project. The construction of the Joffre solar plant alone will support 8 full-time operation and maintenance positions over the lifetime of the project. This and the follow-on PACE projects will create the requirement for new skills in Alberta and significant contribution to the tax base that can grow Alberta’s rural economies. The 47 MWac project will create 88000 MWhs of clean energy annually, which is enough to power more than 12,000 Albertan households with electricity each year. This is the first PACE Canada project to enter construction and the lead project in their current advanced 100 MW clean energy project pipeline. PACE Canada has announced the commencement of construction of the Joffre solar plant with its ground-breaking ceremony in Joffre, Lacombe County.
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