New Westminster Urban Solar Garden Scam

                                                The New West Solar Scam


Hard to believe they copied the Nelson Solar garden scam, even Harder to believe, they are selling project number 2!

The first project was just barely operational, they have no data and they are selling the second project.

I suspect they got in under the wire.  BC Hydro applied to the BC Utilities commission to no longer
pay for anyones solar power.

New Westminster is a little different.  They buy wholesale power from BC Hydro and have their own distribution and electrical department.

The are a little behind the curve but ultimatly the same economics apply.

If you read this link it will help you understand, just replace Nelson Hydro with BC Hydro, its all the same.


You would think New Westminster would know about BC Utilities Commission  January decision denying Kelowna their solar project.  Reasons,  its of no benefit to anyone and it does nothing to reduce GHG's. 


A little math for the New Westminster system 1.

50kW  Vancouver data suggests long term the will be lucky to make 50,000kWh annually.

I don't know their numbers exactly, I suspect they buy power from BC Hydro for about 4c/kWh.

Therefore annual solar power could be worth .04c/kWh x 50,000kWh = $2,000.

But they are allowing full retail likely 10c/kWh or $5000, so that money can be distributed among those opting in for their warm fuzzy feeling.  Not a lot of money but a total loss to everyone.   While picking the pockets of every New West hydro customer as they lose the income they otherwise would have earned from selling wholesale clean green  BC Hydro water power.  Plus adding to the cities carbon footprint.   Nothing is cleaner than our waterpower.

How much did the Urban Solar Garden cost, I am not sure, here are some other costs.

The recently denied Kelowna project estimated install costs at $4/watt.  The Nelson solar garden ended up at almost $6. That Kimberley SunMine a few years ago was over $6/watt.

Lets presume $4/watt for the Urban solar garden.

50,000w x $4/watt = $200,000 business case borrowed at 3.5% for 25 years (solar panel life expectancy)
is payments of $12,000/yr for 25 years.  Plus any and everything that will go wrong.

Therefore that 50,000kWh/yr at $12,000 = 24c/kWh solar power of no value to anyone.

The recently denied Kelowna project estimated power cost was 24c/kWh.

So why would they do this?  Solar power isn't green, it adds to the carbon footprint.

Profits are lost from otherwise selling wholesale BC Hydro power, extra costs because solar is credited full retail so that money is distributed to those opting in and all the risk and costs are passed on to all New West electric customers.

Like Nelson's 25 year contract they are contracting to sell the power of a panel to those opting in while everyone is is a loser.

New Westminster?  Did you think Nelson knew what they were doing? 

Maybe its not to late to cancel project #2.  Nothing is cleaner or greener than BC waterpower.

From what information I see see one opts in for $840 for a 25 year contract for the power of a panel paid at full retail by all other New West electric customers.

Everyone loses the income that would otherwise have been earned from buying wholesale BCHydro power and the end result is you increase the cities carbon footprint and the New West electric customers take on all risk and future costs to maintain that feelgood payment to those opting in thinking they are saving the planet when nothing of the sort is occurring.



The SunMine is an Economic Failure