The city is seeking a federal grant to help pay for a $3.975 million ice plant replacement and upgrade for the Elksentre Arena.
Last week, city council approved applying for $2.376 million in funding from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program. If the application is successful, the city’s portion of the project – which would include a heat recovery system and replacement of the dehumidification system - would be roughly $1.6 million, according to a report presented to city council.
“The Elksentre ice plant has reached the end of its life,” city director of civic facilities and events Andy Beesley said. “We are doing the Kin 1 (arena) first, then the Elksentre, then CN Centre.”
If the grant application is successful, the city expects to begin work in the ice place replacement, heat recovery system in spring of 2025, according to the report.
Replacing the Elksentre ice plant is required to meet new refrigeration plant regulations that came into effect after the deadly ammonia leak at the Fernie Memorial Arena in Fernie, B.C. in October 2017. The upgrade would reduce the ammonia charge for the ice plant by roughly 60 per cent, the report says.
The heat recovery system is expected to reduce natural gas consumption at the arena by 57 per cent, saving the city roughly $17,050 per year and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 104 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
The upgrades are expected to improve air quality in the arena and reduce water consumption by an estimated 762,253 litres per year – roughly half an Olympic-size swimming pool, saving a further $1,070 per year.
“If it works out the way we have planned here, we have 60 per cent funded with another funding source,” Coun. Ron Polillo said. “It is good news.”
