Where would Nelson Hydro’s proposed solar array community energy project go?
Several options have been considered – including Elephant Mountain, the old RDCK lakeside Waste Transfer Station and Davies Street Park in upper Fairview.
But Nelson Hydro’s Energy Co-ordinator Carmen Proctor says the ideal candidate would appear to be at Bonnington near the existing hydro power plant.
That’s based on several factors including social acceptance.
Proctor says around 200 people have already indicated a willingness to invest in a project that would see a return over time via regular credits against their hydro bill.
One buy-in model being pondered for the pilot project suggests people invest about $4000 over 25 years which would pay itself back within 15 years because of the energy savings.
Proctor says they would need a 75% pre-sales commitment from investors for this arrangement. Council appears likely to give the go ahead to call for investors by late summer.