By Caitlin Coombes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Guardian
January 2, 2024
MONTAGUE, P.E.I. — A plan to convert a rink in Three Rivers into an emergency warming centre has cost the facility more than three months of solar energy.
The solar panel array at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre hasn’t been generating electricity since September because of issues with the installation of a new generator.
Dorothy Macdonald, the manager of community services in Three Rivers, said the centre contacted the town with concerns about the then approaching post-tropical storm Lee.
“We had a request from the wellness centre, so we had Cummins make a special trip from New Brunswick to lock out the solar panels so we could put the generator online,” Macdonald told SaltWire on Dec. 22.
This lock-out was necessary to ensure the power from the generator would not feed into and damage the solar system in the event of an emergency activation.
“Nobody had anticipated it was going to be this long,” Macdonald said.
Andrew Dagget, a member of the Community Welfare League, which is responsible for running the arena, stated the centre is in a holding pattern until installation of the generator can be completed.
“The generator was put online and available, but because there was no switch to separate it from the solar system, the solar system was locked out,” Dagget told SaltWire on Dec. 8.
Re-installation
The solar system was intended to be re-engaged on Dec. 7, but an essential part needed for the re-activation of the solar system did not arrive.
The part in question is a switch that allows for the safe activation and deactivation of the emergency generator and the solar array.
Without this switch present in the electrical system of the centre, the power produced by the generator could feed into the solar array, frying the panels.
“There have been multiple delays in getting it, there have been timeline changes at least four times at this point,” Macdonald said.
In the meantime, the centre will continue to function as normal, drawing power entirely from the grid and relying on the generator during power outages.
The costs of running the centre on the generator for a full day is approximately $10,000, but the total usage of the generator will be tallied once the construction is completed.
Macdonald estimated the total cost of installing the generator will be between $250,000 and $300,000, but that total will not be available until after the final part is installed.
“If we weigh the averages at this point, the saving of the ice and maintaining the facility’s ability to do their business is top priority,” MacDonald said.
Macdonald confirmed that as of Dec. 22, Cummins was still sourcing the part without a solid deadline for installation.
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Caitlin Coombes is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. She can be reached by email at caitlin.coombes@saltwire.com and followed on X @caitlin_coombes.