West Kelowna residents’ association pushes for solar energy referendum

A West Kelowna residents’ association is ramping up their call for the city to utilize solar power and lower the fees for installing solar panels.

On Friday, Dan Goy, president of the Glenrosa Residents Association (GRA), issued a press release and a proposal asking the City of West Kelowna to add a referendum question during the 2026 municipal election.

The proposed referendum would ask residents if they support the installation of net metering solar power on all publicly owned facilities in West Kelowna.

The GRA unanimously endorsed the proposed question on Aug. 28.

“Earlier this year we made a presentation advocating for net metering solar power on all facilities owned by the City of West Kelowna that we now know would save taxpayers in excess of $1 million each year,” Goy said.

The GRA presented to West Kelowna City Council in May.

In a June interview with KelownaNow, Goy urged the city to do away with the building permit fees to install solar panels to make it cheaper for residents.

Goy said Kelowna, Vernon, and Summerland do not enforce those fees.

“Municipalities across the globe are turning to solar energy as a sustainable solution to rising energy costs, environmental concerns and energy independence,” Goy added.

Goy pointed to a recent solar project in Coldstream, which was made possible with incentives.

The solar installation at the Okanagan Eco Industrial Park is the largest of its kind in BC and was supported by a $875,000 incentive from BC Hydro.

That project is about as big as two football fields, features nearly 2,500 solar panels and is expected to provide enough energy to power one quarter of the industrial park.

“We understand local government and voter’s reluctance to embrace additional capital expenditures given the avoidable mistakes made on three major projects covered in the recently published MNP report to Council,” Goy said.

Goy is referring to cost overruns on the West Kelowna City Hall/Library, Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant and Operations Yard.

However, the GRA predicts that the total cost of installing solar panels on city-owned facilities would cost less than $1.5 million and energy savings would be immediate and would completely offset the installation costs.

The GRA said the proposed referendum will provide citizens a chance to engage on matters that impact the expenditures and revenue of future city budgets.

“Holding the referendum vote with the Municipal election is cost effective, fiscally responsible and we believe will significantly increase the turnout of voters,” the GRA’s press release said.

The matter has been forwarded to West Kelowna City Council for consideration.