Medicine Hat Consultant Named Double Finalist for Community Solar Innovations

Wesley Paterson, president of Paterson Consulting in Medicine Hat, Alberta, has been named a double finalist at this year's Alberta Science and Technology Leadership awards for his work on community solar projects.

The two categories he was nominated for are Energy Innovation and Regional Innovation, both related to creating power sources. One example is repurposing abandoned oil and gas sites into solar facilities that can run for 25 years, generating tax revenue for landowners and local economies.

Paterson's approach involves working directly with local municipalities and landowners to find solutions tailored to each region's needs, as what may work in one area might not be suitable for another. He believes a grassroots, regional approach is essential to addressing the issue of orphan and abandoned wells, which he describes as 'one of the defining energy legacy issues in Western Canada.'

Paterson will attend the awards ceremony in Calgary on Friday, where he will also speak and lead a roundtable discussion on his model. He expressed excitement about being recognized for his work and representing Medicine Hat, as well as sharing his solution with others.