As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to promote clean, renewable energy the Minister of Energy, the Honourable Bob Chiarelli visited Trent University on May 4 and toured the on-campus Stan Adamson Powerhouse.

Minister Chiarelli commended Trent University on their partnership with Peterborough Utilities Inc and said, “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to visit the Stan Adamson Powerhouse today. It really is amazing that Trent University is the only post-secondary education institution in Canada to own and operate its own powerhouse.”

On the tour, Minister Chiarelli was joined by Steven Pillar, vice president of Finance and Administration at Trent, Mayor Daryl Bennett from the City of Peterborough and David Whitehouse, director, customer and corporate services conservation officer at the Peterborough Utilities Group.

“As a campus divided by the Otonabee River, part of the Trent-Severn Waterway system, Trent is in a unique position to co-own with Peterborough Utilities a hydro-electric power station,” said Mr. Pillar. “We were more than happy to welcome the honourable Bob Chiarelli to Trent’s Symons campus to showcase this distinct part of the University.”

The Stan Adamson Powerhouse is a joint hydro-electric partnership between Peterborough Utilities Inc. and Trent University in conjunction with Parks Canada. A $22.8-million upgrade to install three new turbines was completed in 2013, which will generate 3.9 megawatts of electricity with an expected lifespan of over 100 years. The station currently provides approximately 40 per cent of the total kilowatt hours consumed by the University in a given year, depending on the water volume flowing in the river. At times of low electrical demand on the campus, the station exports surplus power to the Peterborough Utility grid system for use by the local community for which the University receives payment.