1. City of Calgary Brightfield Case Study
A conceptual model for community invested solar development.
May 2017

2. The Problem
The City of Calgary has a number of industrial brownfield sites which are currently underutilized, in poor land condition, and which are often contaminated. Most of them are privately owned, but some are City-owned sites acquired over time through the planning & development process.
Contaminated sites pose an environmental, human health, and economic risk to The City, but remediation is costly.
Simultaneously, Calgary has initiated a new, Council-supported Climate Change Program to reduce The City’s GHG emissions through a green procurement policy, adoption of energy-efficient technologies, and the facilitation of renewable, zero-emission energy production (e.g. wind and solar).
Feb 9, 2017

3. A Potential Solution – Solar Brightfield Development
By encouraging and facilitating renewable energy development on City-owned brownfields (e.g. solar brightfields), The City of Calgary meets two of its Council-mandated priorities:
Develop and implement processes for city-owned brownfield redevelopment (N9.1)
Deliver programs to engage the community and advance the goal of reducing community GHGs (H2.2)
In addition, solar brightfields represent an opportunity to increase landuse efficiency, address site contamination, and invest in communities affected by the depressed land value and human health risks associated with brownfields.
Feb 9, 2017

4. The Case Study
The City of Calgary owns several brownfield sites with significant contamination that renders them inappropriate for commercial or residential development.
One site that has been acquired by The City is associated with previous industrial use that has resulted in significant soil and groundwater contamination. Because this site is located directly adjacent to a residential area, and due to the off-site migration of those contaminants, the previous use has negatively impacted the adjacent community.
The City of Calgary has acquired this site to return the area to productive community use. One option for redevelopment is a solar brightfield, but redevelopment must provide direct, tangible benefits for the adjacent community.
Feb 9, 2017

5. The Case Study Total developable area: ~20 acres Site Characteristics:
Significant heavy metal contamination (still present)
Located in proximity to future LRT alignment
Located directly adjacent to residential areas
Close to future “main street” development (commercial)
Low biodiversity/habitat value of land
Relatively flat, good southern exposure, highly visible
Community is supportive of PV-based solar, has concerns with wind turbines (noise and visibility)
Feb 9, 2017

6. Business Case Key outcomes:
Develop the land for renewable energy generation (a.k.a solar)
Provide direct, tangible benefits for residents of the adjacent community
Provide opportunities for community investment
Please build a business case for the City of Calgary to support community investment in solar generation on this site.
Considerations:
How should the City of Calgary invest in this project?
E.g. provide the land at a nominal cost, facilitate the landuse redesignation, provide property tax incentives, etc.
What is the best option for community investment?
Solar cooperative, third party/private investment, crowd funding, government grants/financing, etc.
If community investment is not an option, are there other ways of ensuring the solar development benefits the adjacent community?
Feb 9, 2017

7. Some Challenges
Community has been significantly impacted by the site’s history and remaining contamination.
Public perception of solar projects as “ugly” or expensive to construct.
Rationalizing municipal investment – why should The City invest in this property for the benefit of one neighborhood? (How does it benefit the city as a whole?).
Large-scale solar development is new to the City of Calgary.
Land contamination is expensive to remediate.
Community is risk-adverse.
Feb 9, 2017