Terasen Energy Services and The Beedie Group working together to build $25M alternative energy solution for innovative and sustainable mixed use development on Coquitlam’s waterfront

December 2, 2008

 

BURNABY, B.C. – Terasen Energy Services has signed an agreement  with The Beedie Group to design, build and manage an alternative district energy system for the developer’s largest innovative and sustainable mixed-use development project, the Village at Fraser Mills located in Coquitlam B.C.

 

The Village at Fraser Mills is to be built on the former mills site located along the Fraser River in Coquitlam. This 89 acre riverfront development will include 3,700 residential units, 275,000 sq. ft of commercial/retail space and 600,000 sq. ft. of business park/ light industrial space and will feature16 acres of open space, parks and trails.

 

“The district energy system will reduce the demand on the province’s electricity grid, and could displace up to 8,200 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year – the equivalent of removing more than 2,500 cars from the road,” said Gareth Jones, Terasen Energy Services Vice President and General Manager. “Several alternative energy solutions are being considered, including a waste heat recovery system that will turn excess heat from a nearby paper recycling plant into sustainable energy for local residents and businesses.”

 

“We recognize the importance of respecting the environment when developing a building or a complete community, so we sought out Terasen Energy Services – a leader in alternative energy systems – to develop and manage a district energy system that would contribute to our vision of a  leading-edge, sustainable community,” said Ryan Beedie, President of The Beedie Group. “Most developments continue to rely on conventional forms of heat for buildings and hot water; however consumer demand for sustainable, affordable homes has increased dramatically in the past few years. We believe our vision for the Village at Fraser Mills is the new standard for sustainable building practices here in B.C.”

 

Other technologies being considered for the Village at Fraser Mills include a biomass system that can use renewable waste plant materials to produce energy and a geoexchange system that can extract heat from the ground. Each option has the potential to be combined with waste heat recovery systems and when new energy supply options become available, they can be easily integrated into the district energy system.  “These integrated  systems have less environmental impact than traditional systems and maintain residents’ comfort and luxury at an affordable price,” said Jones. 

 

“The Village at Fraser Mills will be Coquitlam’s riverfront community and is designed to be an innovative community and a destination site for visitors. This development will provide an example of sustainable development practices for the region and is an important part of the City’s revitalization plans for south west Coquitlam.” said Beedie. “By redeveloping the vacant lumber mill and mill town site  and providing an alternative energy solution – people will once again be able to live, work, shop and play in a close-knit community that cares about the environment.”

 

Construction of the Fraser Mills project is expected to start in the fall of 2009. The district energy system is anticipated to cost $25 million to complete, with the first phase of the system being operational as early as 2011.  Terasen Energy Services will own and operate the system, providing safe, reliable and sustainable energy to the community through a long-term service contract. 

 

District energy systems have the benefit of effectively integrating renewable energy sources and providing high levels of efficiency as the supply and demand is shared across multiple buildings. Through Terasen’s ownership, customers will receive the quality of service they have come to expect from an established utility.
For more information on The Village at Fraser Mills, visit www.villageatfrasermills.com. To learn more about Terasen Energy Services’ alternative energy solutions, visit www.terasenenergyservices.com.

 

 

Kristen Mucha
Manager, Business Development and
Customer Relations
Terasen Energy Services
(604) 928-4188
kristen.mucha@terasen.com

 

Dave Gormley
Director of Development
The Beedie Group
(604) 435-3321
dave.gormley@beediecorp.ca