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

The latest community solar project set forsouthern 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 projectlocated near the town of Strathmore, about 50 kilometreseast of Calgary.

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

It will holda drive-injob fair next month forqualified local workers and contractors for various positions and subcontracts. The event will take place June 13-14at the Strathmore Farmers'Market Pavilion.

Steve Owens, vice-president of construction for Capital Power, said that during theconstruction 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 the40.5-megawatt projectbegan 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 towardnet 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'slargest solar facility. Building it will require roughly 500 workers.

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