At its Aug. 6 regular meeting, County of Paintearth council reviewed progress on two major infrastructure initiatives — a multi-site solar power installation and ongoing broadband expansion — projects designed to improve energy efficiency and internet connectivity across the region.

Paintearth County’s multi-site solar installation is moving toward final connection to the electrical grid, according to the chief administrative officer’s report to council on Aug. 6.

The Crowfoot Administration and Reservoir project is fully built, with only the grid connection remaining. Contractor Terralta revised electrical drawings to reflect upgrades to county service and backup generators. These drawings require approval from Superior Safety Codes in Drumheller before the inspection and bi-directional meter installation can proceed.

As of 2025, $686,464.35 of the $769,133.16 contract has been paid, with additional site upgrades at Castor Public Works costing $43,113.26. Trenching work began July 30 at the County Public Works yard, with transformer service work to follow.

The Halkirk and Coronation Public Works buildings have been operational since commissioning, producing steady power output. The county has also renewed efforts to gain access to the solar monitoring portal, originally requested in March 2024, which requires a customer number from Fronius to complete the setup.

Broadband expansion

Broadband expansion progresses in Halkirk, Crowfoot Crossing, and Castor.  The county’s broadband projects are advancing after a series of delays related to contractor changes and network access agreements.

In Halkirk, construction of the fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network began in October 2024, with 87 drops installed — 10 within the hamlet, including five future lots, and six to nearby acreages and businesses. After nearly a year of negotiations, the county secured a connection agreement with Bell, with customer connections scheduled to start in August. The target is 30 per cent penetration by year-end, or 23 customers.

At Crowfoot Crossing, civil work and conduit installation finished in January, though grading issues may require rework on some lots. Fibre deployment and a connection to the SuperNet along Highway 12 are set to begin mid-August. Temporary wireless service for nearby farms is under consideration.

“It’s sad the government doesn’t support a place that is listed as being in need of it.” commented Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Michael Simpson.

In Castor, Phase 1 construction kicked off July 21. Across all four phases, 300 of a possible 507 properties have signed access agreements, which secure fibre installation but not yet service subscriptions. Phase 1 is scheduled to be in service by Nov. 1 and Phase 2 by Dec. 1, with door-to-door outreach continuing to boost sign-ups. The county projects 64 customers in Castor by the first quarter of 2026 if targets are met.

The county is also assessing the condition of four existing wireless towers. Two — Preston and Fleet — are in good condition, while the Broderson and Blume towers will need replacement at an estimated cost of $450,000 each. A budget and plan for tower replacements are expected in 2026.

Council also raised concerns about a rise in copper theft, noting that some towers have been pulled down, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. “The amount of copper theft is serious,” said Reeve Stan Schulmeister.

Officials said the projects, while ongoing, have gained momentum after earlier setbacks.