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Kelowna SPCA outfitted with free solar panels, thanks to local company

Okanagan Solar owner says anytime they have left over panels, they try to give back to community
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Okanagan Solar Limited installing solar panels at the BC SPCA Kelowna Branch. (contributed)

Okanagan Solar Limited is in the business of renewable energy, but theyѻýre also in the business of giving back.

Owner Rob Monteith said every year the company looks at supporting a local charity organization with free solar panels and installation.

After driving past the building so many times and noticing how perfect the roof is for solar panels, Monteith chose the BC SPCA Kelowna branch to gift the solar panels to.

ѻýWe do a lot of really large projects and buy in bulk, and sometimes we have leftover panels,ѻý Monteith said. ѻýWhen that happens I always look for a non-profit that could use some help.ѻý Monteith said one of their previous gifts was to Kelownaѻýs Gospel Mission.

One of the challenges in gifting solar panels is that the organization needs to own its building. With the SPCA building in Kelowna being owned, not leased, and south facing, Monteith said it was an easy pick.

ѻýFor a non-profit like the SPCA, obviously it didnѻýt cost them anything for [the solar system], but that building uses a lot of power. Anything that we could produce lowers the cost of their annual bills, or their monthly bills for Fortis.ѻý

Monteith has been in the Okanagan for about 50 years and said his kids were born and raised here. As a member of the community he has felt the need to give back to those around him.

ѻýWeѻýre a small family-run, owned and operated company, and itѻýs always best to help everybody in your community. Weѻýve had a really good year and weѻýre in a very good businessѻý Itѻýs been a profitable year, so it only makes sense that we pay it forward.ѻý

The solar panels were installed back in October at an estimated value of $8,300.

READ MORE: Thousands to be won in Habitat for Humanity Okanaganѻýs 50/50



Brittany Webster

About the Author: Brittany Webster

I am a video journalist based in Kelowna and capturing life in the Okanagan
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