Re: "Final vote to borrow $33.75M in solar-farm cash hits council Aug. 30," The Gazette, Aug. 11.
City council would be wise to postpone further readings of the $33.75-milliion solar-farm borrowing bylaw until after the Oct. 18 civic election.
This bylaw does not have to be finally passed until June 20, 2022. This will give a new council time to complete some important work that hasn't been done to date, beginning with an engineering study of the Badger Lands.
I'm tired of hearing the city manager and other city folks throwing out figures of the cost of land remediation that just don't make sense.
The fact that the city manager is still spouting off cleanup costs of between $15.5 million and $25 million is a dead giveaway that city administration has failed in its duty to establish that cost so council can make a determination as to the best step forward.
Once the city knows the actual cleanup cost, then council can consider other options, such as issuing an invitation for development projects for the land, including the possible lease of the land as a solar site to some existing power provider who could sell the excess power in addition to providing power to St. Albert residents and business.
There are other options to consider, as well, which may come forward if the city issues an invitation for proposals.
Bob Russell, St. Albert
