In my opinion, council should absolutely proceed with incorporating the requirement of geothermal utilities in the new developments on Despard and Cedar Ridge.
The expenditures of $1.8 million and $3.2 million respectively are reasonable enough when you consider that they will reduce the draw of energy from the grid for these large complexes and break even in under 20 years.
Is 20 years really that long in the life of these buildings? That is also considering that energy prices remain predictable, which is unlikely if BC Hydro proceeds with rate hikes.
The real payback could be much sooner if the price of energy rises, dwarfing the initial investment. This is also a noble idea in setting a precedent that says if you want to build a big project in Parksville, you have to start thinking about sustainability. And if the excuse is that it is too expensive, then go and build elsewhere, because our green space is worth more than another cheap condo.
If the city is concerned that they desperately want new development, then they should contribute financially to the infrastructure installation in exchange for ownership of a number of units that could be reserved for lower income residents, thus creating some modest income to help pay off their investment.
Council also needs to consider the spin-off of adopting this idea, which would hopefully include creating jobs and training opportunities for local workers. This would hopefully translate into greater local knowledge and expertise, making the technology more accessible.
We need the jobs in this city, and council would be passing up an opportunity to create jobs and show that they are committed to sustainable developments. I suspect that the city could also appeal to BC Hydro for financial support instead of dismissing these projects on the basis of cost alone.
As the mayor of Qualicum Beach would point out, our city is all too happy to welcome development. Is it too much to ask for better infrastructure investment from these large projects?
C. Pahl
Parksville
