The Solar Thermal Plant in Medicine Hat - Photo by Bob Schneider

By Charles Lefebvre

City still discussing plan for solar thermal plant

Nov 25, 2019 | 5:17 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A decision on the future of the solar thermal plant in Medicine Hat has not yet been made.

Brad Maynes, commissioner of natural gas and utilities with the city, says discussions continue about what the future of the site will look like.

“They’re very active discussions, in terms of the request for removal of equipment, as well as repurposing,” he said. “We have ideas come in from many different areas regarding alternative uses.”

Built in 2014, the city announced in May that they would not be running plant, located near the Gas City Campground. The decision was due to the site not being viable in the winter months.

At the time of the announcement, a decision was expected in the fall.

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Maynes says they’re hoping to find an alternative use for the site.

“We thought that for the city, that it would look at another purpose for it that can take advantage of the infrastructure that’s already in place,” he said. “It’s paved, there’s a parking lot, there’s services, there’s power to the site. We’re going to through the various uses of the site as it evolves.”

Maynes says he’s expecting a plan to appear before city council in the first quarter of 2020.