Ottawa contributes $23.7M to Blatchford energy system

A picture of Blatchford's Energy Centre One on July 31, 2024. (Evan Klippenstein / CTV News Edmonton)

Edmonton's carbon-neutral community will receive $23.7 million for its energy system from the federal government, officials announced on Wednesday.

Federal minister and Edmonton MP Randy Boissonnault made the announcement on behalf of the ministry of energy and natural resources that morning in front of Energy Centre One in Blatchford.

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"This is not only going to drive down emissions and lower monthly housing expenses in Edmonton, but it's also going to ensure we have long-term access to the affordable, reliable and plentiful power sources our city needs to keep growing and developing," he said.

The federal funding is coming from the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program, a $4.5-billion program in total that is meant to support Canada's goal of becoming a net-zero economy by 2050.

Blatchford's energy system – a city-owned utility called Blatchford Renewable Energy – will consist of several energy production centres like Energy Centre One throughout the community, from which energy will be circulated to homes and businesses.

The system will also use geoexchange, sewer heat recovery and solar panels.

In Alberta's capital city, 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, according to the city.

Officials estimate Blatchford buildings will produce 75 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the average Edmonton home.

The goal is for the future community of 30,000 to be sustained fully by renewable energy.

The total cost of the project is $79.2 million. The City of Edmonton is funding the remaining cost. 

According to Mayor Amerjeet Sohi, the federal dollars will be used to install an additional heat pump and auxiliary equipment in Blatchford, as well as the design and construction of a distribution pipe network and sewer heat exchange energy centre. 

On the Blatchford land sold by the city to builders, more than 150 homes are complete or under construction, the city says.

It says land sale agreements are in place or underway that will see another 500 homes built, including a 90-unit rental townhouse development and four six-storey apartment buildings. 

More than half of the site's developable land, 60 per cent, is not being built on yet. 

Data on the number of residents is not available as Blatchford was not counted during the 2019 census, the city told CTV News Edmonton.