Two retired St. Albert businessmen say they have “serious concerns” about the city’s plans for the Badger Lands solar farm and a city-run energy corporation.
John Farlinger, a former president of the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce, and Bruce McPherson, a casino magnate and recipient of the 2016 philanthropy award, took out a full-page advertisement in The Gazette Aug. 11 asking readers not to take the city’s upcoming decision “lightly.”
The city is set to move forward to second and third readings of a borrowing bylaw for the Badger Lands solar farm on Aug. 30, which would enable St. Albert to borrow up to $33.75 million over 20 years to fund the project.
Farlinger said one of the aspects that spurred him and McPherson to purchase the ad was how quickly the decision was coming before council.
“The city has proposed this, presented it, and pushed it very quietly to avoid attracting opposition,” Farlinger said of the solar-farm project. “There have been no forums on it or presentations by the city. The lack of transparency here is unbelievable.”
After watching the presentation by energy firm ATCO that came before council on June 21, Farlinger said he was frustrated that councillors were not posing more questions about the project.
“I would say the councillors do not understand this project,” Farlinger said. “Some current councillors aren’t even running in the next election … they’re voting on it and then leaving, and won’t be around for any of the fallout.”
Though McPherson and Farlinger consulted local experts in the formation of the letter, including engineer Frank Vagi, Farlinger said he and McPherson took out the ad on their own behalf.
“We’ve both been in business in St. Albert for a great number of years, so we’re very involved in the community,” Farlinger said. “When we see a project like this, that is ill conceived, this is just a common-sense approach from us.”
Ultimately, Farlinger said he would prefer council stopped pursuing new streams for generating revenue, and instead cut spending.
“Reigning in spending would pose no risk to taxpayers,” Farlinger said. “The City of St. Albert would have absolutely no trouble reducing their spending by five per cent.”
Farlinger said he doesn’t want anyone to assume he’s automatically “against solar farms.”
“That’s the farthest thing from the truth,” he said. “I’m looking at the financial aspect of this, and I’m concerned about putting taxpayers on the hook for $33.75 million.”
No public hearing
In the ad, Farlinger and McPherson highlighted that the city will not hold a public hearing as part of the borrowing bylaw process. The city announced the required 15-day petition period, which started Aug. 11 and will end on Aug. 26.
“Why wouldn’t you have a public forum with all sides present?” Farlinger asked. “I would welcome the city manager Kevin Scoble to be involved, ATCO, the mayor, and council. They will not do that.”
The City of St. Albert did not provide answers to a list of 15 questions emailed by The Gazette, asking about the solar farm and the municipal energy corporation (MEC), at the time of publication.
One of the emailed questions asked why there will not be a public hearing for the solar-farm borrowing bylaw. The city did not provide a reason for the delay in answers at the time of publication.
The city did not provide a spokesperson to answer The Gazette’s questions via an interview.
