Rainy Creek Shop. (Lacombe County)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Tees and Rainy Creek Shops

Lacombe County expands solar capacity at satellite shops

Jun 25, 2025 | 3:26 PM

Officials with Lacombe County say the municipality continues to make strides toward greater energy efficiency and long-term cost savings due to recent solar expansions at its two satellite shop locations.

Those locations include the Tees Shop and the Rainy Creek Shop near Sylvan Lake.

County officials say these projects were made possible with support from the Government of Alberta through the Municipal Electricity Generation Program administered by the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC).

Originally constructed in 2016 with 10.2 kW solar arrays, the county says both facilities received major upgrades in 2025. The Rainy Creek Shop now includes a 24.4 kW solar expansion, while the Tees Shop saw a 27.8 kW addition.

Tees Shop. (Lacombe County)

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With these enhancements, county officials say each location now generates enough solar energy to fully offset its annual electricity consumption. The installations were completed by Empower Energy.

“Adding solar to these facilities is about more than energy savings—it’s about building smarter for the future,” said Barb Shepherd, Reeve of Lacombe County, in a press release. “By investing in clean, local energy, we’re making our infrastructure more resilient and reducing long-term costs for our residents.”

“We applaud Lacombe County for their foresight in 2016,” said MCCAC Executive Director Trina Innes, “and are proud to provide this investment in their future.”

Through programs like the Municipal Electricity Generation Program, the county notes that municipalities can take meaningful action to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and model climate leadership.

These solar expansions are said to be part of Lacombe County’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship and resilient infrastructure that serves residents and businesses alike.