Call them the opposite of the Hatfields and McCoys.
Peter Pardell of Pardell Electric and Ric Perron of Perron Electric both own like-minded companies in Metchosin. But they’ve decided to team up on a district initiative they hope will raise the profile of solar energy and show visitors that Metchosin is a green community.
The $9,360 project will see 16 solar panels installed on the roof of the Pioneer Museum roof, and with labour provided at no cost and an attractive business case from a financial and philosophical point of view, the initiative passed through the District’s finance and environment committee earlier this month with unanimous approval.
The funds for the project will come out of the municipality’s Carbon Reserve Fund, meaning no tax increase will be required.
“When people come into the municipal grounds, they’ll be able to see them and it will encourage that kind of a use,” said Mayor John Ranns.
Perron has wanted to see panels built on municipal buildings for some time and hopes that a successful project at the museum could lead to other projects in the future. He cited the fire hall and the Metchosin Community House as candidates for panels. The case for panels on the fire hall was explored by council late last year but that project is “dead,” according to Ranns, as it didn’t make sense from a financial point of view.
“I believe the future is solar. We all have to go with subsidizing our electricity with solar,” Perron said.
Pardell, owner of an extensive solar panel system on his own house, hopes the visible location of the panels will lead more people to consider this green type of energy. “We want to see it in the community. I think it’s a direction Metchosin should take,” he said.
The two business owners share an amicable relationship despite their similar businesses and have worked on community projects together in the past.
“We help each other … we’re not nasty competitors,” Pardell said, laughing.
“On location we’ll call each other for information,” added Perron.
Ranns said the solar project likely wouldn’t have gotten off the ground if not for the free labour from both companies.
He credited their owners for being “community-minded people.”
“It becomes much more realistic in terms of a payback … I really appreciate these people volunteering, because it is something that we want to look at,” he said.
Larry Tremblay, president of the Metchosin Museum Society, is thankful the two companies were able to help put the project together.
“We support it 100 per cent. We’re in the process of insulating and heating the museum and this will definitely help us out after some really atrocious bills this winter,” he said.
The project received strong support from councillors at the committee level and was approved by Metchosin council on Monday (March 20).