People living in the Village of Stirling and surrounding communities in Southern Alberta should be extremely proud when they read the press release that was issued January 25, 2021 by Greenbriar Capital Corp.
Greenbriar entered into a unique industry-leading marketing partnership with Ridge Utilities, a local utility company formed by the Village of Stirling, which will unlock the huge potential of Micro-Generation in Southern Alberta.
The partnership will see Greenbriar support the development and financing of up to $120 million of new solar facilities, which will help to increase the Micro-Generation capacity for numerous commercial and agricultural sites across southern Alberta. In turn, Ridge Utilities will provide retail customers with access to preferential energy pricing through its unique Solar Club program.
“Ridge Utilities is excited to partner with Greenbriar. Their commitment to investing in solar energy for Southern Alberta will help reduce the Province’s carbon footprint and with the Village of Stirling being the first net-zero community in Alberta, it marries nicely with our commitment to the environment,” said Trevor Lewington, Mayor of Stirling. “When you couple this positive for the environment with the benefits of Ridge Utilities Solar Club rate, it just makes sense for anyone who wants solar or wishes to enhance the solar they have.”
Expressions of interest are welcome from owners/operators or light industrial, commercial, agricultural, and irrigation facilities that are interested in adding new or expanding existing solar Micro-Generation systems. Expressions of interest can be submitted to info@ridgeutilities.net.
A Good News Story
At a time when the province is faced with so much negative news, it is important to celebrate the good news stories that come our way. At UTILITYnet, Green Alberta Energy’s parent company, ‘Dare to Dream’ is the motto we base our business on. When you dare to dream and are willing to invest in the future of our communities, our future becomes a little brighter.
Daring to dream is exactly how the story of Ridge Utilities started.
Ridge Utilities was formed as a municipally controlled corporation by the Village of Stirling as an innovative community sustainability initiative. The company markets electricity, natural gas, internet, and green generated power to residents, farmers, and businesses across southern Alberta.
As an Energy Marketer operating under the retailer license issued to Utility Network & Partners, Ridge Utilities is committed to investing profits from its operations back into projects in communities where its customers live.
“The village was looking for a new source of revenue and a new way to provide better services, not just to our residents, but residents in our region,” said Lewington. “Energy retailing allows us to do just that. We provide top-notch local customer care and competitive prices, and we invest all of our profits right where our customers live rather than having the money sent to a faceless corporate headquarters in another region or country.”
About the Solar Club
Launched in 2019, the Solar Club was designed as a grid-connected retailing program for solar micro-generators. Members gain access to exclusive electricity rates, get cashback on electricity imported from the grid, and receive free Renewable Energy Certificates to help offset the carbon footprint on the energy they import from the grid. Learn more about this unique program here.
The amount of Solar systems installed in the province is on the rise and today there are over 6,000 Micro-Generators in the province. During 2020, Solar Club Members imported 5.4 million kWh from the grid, which was offset by 5.5 million kWh of surplus solar electricity exported back onto the grid produced from their solar PV systems. The collective group of members in the Solar Club achieved the objective of being “Net-Zero.”
The Solar Club Loyalty Program was established with the objective of lowering Alberta’s carbon footprint and paying Solar Micro-Generators a reasonable price for the surplus green electricity they produce and ship back to the grid. Membership in the Club is open to all Micro-Generators in the province, through UTILITYnet’s network of Local Energy Marketers. Ridge Utilities is one of the newest companies to join over 23 other retailers who are offering this unique service in Alberta. Join the Club today to become part of Alberta’s “Net-Zero” community.
What’s in it For Me?
If you live in Stirling or any community in Southern Alberta sign up for electricity, natural gas, or Internet services through Ridge Utilities. It is simple – just click here.
“Shopping locally for your utilities is important, especially if you want to support a local municipal venture that is trying to make a difference in the lives of the people that they serve,” said Nick Clark, Director of Utility Network & Partners Inc. “Everyone has a monthly utility bill to pay, so why not feel good about your energy retailer and keep the profits in your own community?”