Leduc is no longer the owner of Canada's largest municipal rooftop solar system.

Airdrie has seized that honour, following the announcement that the 3,800 solar panels on top of Genesis Place are now up and running.

The solar panel system will produce up to 30 percent of the facilities electricity needs with clean, solar energy.

Mayor Peter Brown said during the announcement that this project shows that Airdrie is thinking about the future.

"It means we're becoming more sustainable, we're understanding our carbon footprint, we're taking the equivalent of 275 cars off the road annually, and as soon as I flipped that switch, we had money rolling back it. It's pretty awesome to be drawing money from the sun. It's equivalent to about $80,000 a year."

Mayor Brown says that this is just the first step for Airdrie in reducing its carbon footprint.

"The carport system we're installing will give people a more hands-on feel of what this is because when you're down below you can't see how exciting this thing is and how massive it is. I think it's important for people to realize (they) can do this on their home. It's becoming more affordable. You can roll it back into the grid if you don't use it all. It's the next step toward self-sustainability and where we need to go as a community."

Enmax Vp of Sales, Erwin Kantwerg, said that other communities will look at Airdrie's project and be inspired.

"It's certainly a step in an environmental leadership perspective. It's amazing. People are going to see this site and going to want to become more involved."

Kanter said that Airdrie was the perfect location to place a project of this magnitude.

"The City of Airdrie has a wonderful landscape for solar. Not only is Alberta one of the best provinces for sunshine, but we have a lot of flat roofs here, so you can install a lot of solar in Airdrie. Eventually, it might provide all the energy they require."

"Just this project alone reduces 1,000 tons of GHG per year and (...) these solar panels will last for thirty years. So, this will be creating energy for thirty years and each and every year takes 275 cars off the road."

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