Strathmore solar project looking for workers as construction ramps up this summer

The latest community solar project set for southern Alberta is looking to hire dozens of workers as construction efforts ramp up in the coming months.

Capital Power expects the development will require roughly 175 workers later this summer on the project located near the town of Strathmore, about 50 kilometres east of Calgary.

The Edmonton-based company said the effort will focus on "local first" by hiring, contracting and sourcing supplies from the area whenever possible during the construction process.

It will hold a drive-in job fair next month for qualified local workers and contractors for various positions and subcontracts. The event will take place June 13-14 at the Strathmore Farmers' Market Pavilion.

Steve Owens, vice-president of construction for Capital Power, said that during the construction phase it's expected there will be a need for workers ranging from janitorial staff to skilled trades and heavy-equipment operators.

Preliminary work on the 40.5-megawatt project began in April. When finished by the end of year, it will provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of 12,000 homes. It will be operated remotely from the company's Edmonton facility.

The project is valued at up to $55 million.

"It's an opportunity to maximize the benefits of clean energy and it helps Capital Power to meet our sustainable targets as we work toward net carbon neutral by 2050," Owens said.

The solar project is one of several in the works for southern Alberta.

Last month, online retail giant Amazon announced plans for an 80-megawatt project east of Calgary.

Greengate Power's Travers Solar project, expected to be built by the end of 2022, is poised to become Canada's largest solar facility. Building it will require roughly 500 workers.

An analysis last year said Alberta could lead the country in wind and solar capacity as early as 2025.