BVGEC Celebrates the Anniversary of its Largest Community-Funded Solar Project!
The Bow Valley Green Energy Co-op (BVGEC), Baymag, and KCP Energy are thrilled to celebrate the anniversary of the largest solar array in the MD of Bighorn! This groundbreaking project, located at Baymag’s plant in Exshaw, is a testament to the power of community investment in renewable energy and corporate climate leadership.
A Milestone for Renewable Energy in the Bow Valley
On June 22, 2023, Baymag, BVGEC, and KCP Energy gathered to commemorate the official electrification of this unique solar initiative. The event brought together key stakeholders, including Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi and many individuals who were instrumental in making this vision a reality.
At 291 kW, the rooftop solar photovoltaic system at Baymag’s Exshaw plant is the largest of its kind in the MD of Bighorn. The installation was expected to produce up to 300,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually, offsetting approximately 240 tonnes of CO₂e from Alberta’s electricity grid each year. To put this into perspective, that’s equivalent to powering 50–60 homes annually!
Corporate Climate Leadership
Baymag’s Exshaw plant is demonstrating bold climate action leadership by embracing clean energy solutions that lower its carbon footprint while supporting a local, community-owned social enterprise like BVGEC. While only a small offset for the plant’s overall electricity usage, this is only the first step in a longer journey.
Franz Spachtholz, CEO of Baymag, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating: "This solar project is part of Baymag’s larger sustainability engagement, which is a key priority for our company and our stakeholders—especially our employees, community, and customers."
Jim Bachmann, Vice President of Operations at Baymag, added: "Following our recent expansion project, which reduced our overall carbon intensity, this solar panel project is another major commitment for our business, for the environment, and for the communities in which we live, work, and play."
A Community-Driven Renewable Energy Success
BVGEC will own and operate the system, ensuring that all profits from the sale of energy are reinvested into future local solar projects and installations.
Jeff Roberts, President of BVGEC, shared: "This project is an important step toward our goal of reaching 1 Megawatt of installed community-funded renewable energy capacity by the end of 2025. BVGEC is proud to work alongside Baymag as they take meaningful steps to reduce their carbon footprint."
KCP Energy, a trusted partner in solar installations, was crucial to the project’s successful completion.
Geoff Domenico, President of KCP Energy, highlighted the significance of the collaboration: "This has been a special project to be a part of, as it is truly a made-in-the-Bow-Valley solution. It’s inspiring to see large organizations like Baymag take real climate leadership and drive projects like this forward."
The Impact So Far
Since unofficially flipping the switch on April 10, 2023, the system has already made a measurable impact:
✅ 293.74 MWh of power generated
✅ 197 tonnes of CO₂ offset in the first year
✅ The equivalent of planting 3,263 trees!
Thank You to Our Supporters
This project would not have been possible without the dedication of BVGEC member-investors, Baymag, KCP Energy, and our incredible community of supporters. Your investment dollars and commitment to sustainability are driving real change, and we couldn’t be more grateful!
Together, we are transforming Alberta’s energy, one solar panel at a time! ☀️💡♻️
Watch this short video detailing the success of this project!
This project was made possible through generous grants and support from the following organizations:
