Remy Boulbol, director of programming and development with the Rose City Islamic Centre, speaks during a solar project announcement at the Rose City Islamic Centre in Windsor on Tuesday, October 4, 2011. The RCIC will be installing 55,000 square feet of panels to the roof of their centre.
Photograph by: Tyler Brownbridge, The Windsor Star
Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/technology/Windsor+Islamic+centre+produce+solar+power/5503673/story.html#ixzz1ZxlLJP2B
For immediate release:
The Ontario Green Energy Act Helps Support Windsor Community Centre
The Muslim Association of Canada Rose City Islamic Centre Partners with Solgate Solar to Provide More Clean Energy and Community Programs
In June of 2010, the Windsor Chapter of the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), applied to the Ontario Power Authority under the Ontario Green Energy Act to obtain a contract to produce 250KW solar energy through the province’s Feed in Tariff (FIT) Program. The contract was approved this summer, and after much consultation, MAC has partnered with Solgate Solar, a Torontobased solar energy company, to install solar panels over more than half of MAC’s Rose City Islamic Center (RCIC). This project will be one of the largest in Windsor, and will make a significant impact on the environment. The solar panels will provide electricity to more than 250 homes as well as reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 371,000kg per year. By producing clean, renewable energy, 505,871 acres of forest will be saved and 4,160 barrels of oil displaced.
The benefits to the RCIC as well as the community at large are significant. As a community centre, providing programming to youth, families and newcomers to Canada with social service programs, RCIC will be able to expand its current operations to better serve the community. Funds received from the partnership with Solgate will assist the RCIC in providing much needed social programs to the community of Windsor and Essex County.
In addition to the environmental impact, there is also an economic impact on Windsor and on the province of Ontario through the jobs created by using Ontario made products and labour.
MAC is a national, grassroots organization. MAC currently operates in 11 Canadian cities, with a vision to establish an Islamic presence in Canada that is balanced, constructive and integrated, though distinct, within the social fabric and culture of Canada.
RCIC is an institution of the Windsor chapter of MAC providing social services to residents of Windsor and Essex County. RCIC currently operates programs for youth, families and newcomers to Canada through partnerships with the YMCA, United Way and the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
