MOUNTAIN LIFE - Coast Mountains | Winter Spring 2019

56 MLCM WINTER/SPRING 2019 SOLAR IN A RAINFOREST? It works H ere in the Coast Mountains, our energy is generated by hydroelectric dams with a low carbon footprint. (Mismanaged water release flow rates can and do devastate river ecosystems and salmon habitat, but for the most part, hydro is considered ‘green’ energy). Much of the rest of the world, however, doesn’t have the luxury of endless water running off mountains to create power. Thankfully, there is a consistent ball of energy blazing in the sky, one that can be harnessed even here in the misty rainforests of the Sea to Sky. And according to International Energy Agency (IAE) numbers, solar is the world’s fastest growing source of energy. “The tech is getting better all the time,” explains Niekia Botham of Squamish-based Sea to Sky Solar. “Even if the sun is not blazing, your panels can catch some UV rays. But what really drew me to solar was the opportunity to decentralize ownership and control of our energy. Solar is an energy asset that literally puts the power back in the hands of the people.” While off-grid systems still require battery storage and maintenance, Botham explains that BC Hydro has a net metering program that allows solar producers to connect to the grid and offset their usage for big savings. “It isn’t ideal for every home,” she says. “But if you have unobstructed southern or western exposure to the sun and decent roof orientation it can make a lot of sense.” BCHydro prices fluctuate but based on a 4.5 per cent rate escalator, Botham says solar installations can pay for themselves in 11 to 18 years. “Who knows what BC Hydro is going to charge us a decade from now? Some BC residents have experienced an almost 100% increase in the last decade. For a lot of people, an investment in energy independence is starting to look more attractive than another kitchen reno.” The idea of energy independence is not new. Solar microgrids, independent co-operatives capturing and selling solar energy to their neighbours using blockchain transactions, are popping up in communities across the US. And the price of solar panels is expected to continue dropping as technology evolves (manufacturers are now using diamond wire to slice even skinnier panels and produce higher yields). While we haven’t reached that level of solar integration here in the Sea to Sky, more and more homes are opting to take advantage of the long summer days (and increasingly sunny summers) to create energy options for their future. And hey, if it’s working for all those Sprinter Vans…? seatoskysolar.ca – Feet Banks Solar is an energy asset that literally puts the power back in the hands of the people.” –Niekia Botham, Sea to Sky Solar