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The Partnerships that Built SunMine

UBCM Mid-Sized Communities Forum

September 26th, 2017  

Mayor Don McCormick and CAO Scott Sommerville City of Kimberley  

Overview •  Kimberley’s Mining History •  What is SunMine? •  Why did Kimberley build SunMine? •  What partnerships were involved in building SunMine? •  What lessons were learned from building SunMine?

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Kimberley’s Mining History

•  Kimberley was home to the world’s largest lead-zinc mine for 92 years.

•  The Sullivan Mine produced $27 billion worth of ore.

•  Closed in 2001 •  reclamation happening since

then.

What is SunMine? •  First grid-connected solar power plant in

Western Canada •  1MWp is enough to power 275 homes •  96 towers tracking the sun, with 4032 solar

panels •  The electricity produced is sold to BC Hydro

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Why build SunMine? •  Take

advantage of 300 days of sunshine

•  Repurpose brownfield land

•  Proof of concept for viability of solar in region

Brownfield to Brightfield

•  Fully-remediated, Southern facing slope •  Former industrial site with existing substations,

transmission lines, fencing and roads •  First redevelopment of a mining site into a solar

field in Canada

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Partnership with EcoSmart: the Idea

•  In 2008, the City and Teck were approached by EcoSmart, a not-for-profit organization

•  EcoSmart had analyzed weather stations at airports across Canada, and determined that Kimberley had the highest solar energy in BC

•  Realized that the brownfield and electrical infrastructure made for an ideal solar site

Partnership with Teck

•  Provided reclaimed land and substation for SunMine

•  Contributed $2M donation to the City for the project, $600K went to EcoSmart

•  Teck was originally going to manage the project, but declined in the end

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•  Provided $1M for the use of innovative tracking technology

•  ICE Fund support the Province's energy, economic, environmental and greenhouse gas reduction priorities, and advances B.C.'s clean energy sector.

Partnership with the Province: Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund

Failed Partnership with Western Economic Diversification (WD) Canada

•  Partnership with Teck was re-structured to meet WD’s requirements •  City was informed that priorities had changed, and that $1.6M in grant funding

had been re-allocated •  Caused project to be downsized from 1.65MW to 1.05MW •  Left the City scrambling for funding, led to new partnerships

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Partnership with Columbia Basin Trust (CBT)

•  CBT provided a grant for $300,000 towards SunMine •  Provided technical expertise from hydroelectric experience

Partnership with Jetson Consulting Engineers

•  City did not possess technical capacity for constructing a solar project

•  Once the City decided signed EPCM contract, we began looking for technical expertise to enhance City’s capacity

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•  Signed MOU in 2016 with Aqam Band to work together to enhance the area’s economic significance

•  Significant role in Ribbon-Cutting and Opening Ceremonies

•  City has referred several solar opportunities their direction

•  Rooftop solar on Ktunaxa Nation building

Partnership with Local First Nations

Partnership with BC Hydro •  First solar project to have Electricity

Purchase Agreement with BC Hydro •  Revenue from the sale of electricity has

serviced $2M debt and building reserve •  Awaiting outcome of Site C review to

determine demand for expansion, and fulfilment of 2nd MW

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SunMine Surprises •  Complexity of 18 Agreements •  Overwhelming demand for:

•  Tours •  media attention •  requests for advice(free consultations)  

•  Partnership Agreements restricted to Municipal Services

•  “Fair-Market” Value

The Future is Bright for Kimberley

Questions?

Contact Information: Scott Sommerville, CAO

250-427-9668 SSommerville@kimberley.ca

•  Interest in partnership on expansion •  Creation of solar industry in our region