Press

Owners of solar home open doors to public

TINY TOWNSHIP – Ten to 15 people stop in front of Mary Anne and Robert McLaughlin’s Celtic Roots Equestrian Centre every day – but they aren’t admiring the mares.

They are taking a look at a new solar-panel system that the family said makes their home the first residence in Tiny Township to be part of the micro-feed-in-tariff (microFIT) program.

“We’ve always been green-minded, and this was a win-win solution for us and our customers,” said Robert McLaughlin.

The couple will host an open house on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will include a barbecue, horse rides and an information session with Mike Henderson of the company Ethosolar.

The McLaughlin’s ground-mounted system produces an average of 40 kilowatt hours daily, enough to supply the farm, their residence and more.

Under the Ontario Power Authority, they are slated to receive monthly payments for the next 20 years as reward for feeding back onto the grid, and hope to see their investment paid off in approximately eight years.

“Our neighbours are waiting to see how our system pans out, but there is definite interest from this area,” said McLaughlin.

Celtic Roots Equestrian Centre is located at 830 Concession 18 W. in Tiny Township.