Alberta's economic downturn an 'enlightenment,' says Devon mayor

In themiddle of Alberta's economic downturn, one of Canada's oldest oil and gas towns is thinking outside the barrel.

As some analysts predict that oil could drop as low as $10 a barrel, DevonMayor Stephen Lindopis looking away from the town's traditional carbonroots and toward a sunnier future.

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The townrecentlyinstalled a 100kilowatt solar project with 393 panelsatits community centre. It's a marked shift fora community thatwas built almost entirely byImperial Oil after Leduc No.1 struck black gold in 1947.

"It's saving us money from day one," saidLindopin an interview withCBC'sAlberta at Noon.

Lindop hopesto extend the initiative to thefourteen other town buildings and plans tocreate new homeowner incentiveprograms for rooftop solar.

"There could be solar panels put on buildings and homes across Alberta which would create all sorts of jobs and help diversify our economy," Lindop said.

In additionthe town council isnegotiatingan innovative redevelopment of a140-acrebrownfieldthat used to be an Imperial Oil site.

The projectwould include greenhouses built of transparent solar panels that would simultaneously generate electricity and produce not only food but also algae and other microbes for hydrocarbon remediation.

'The future is green,' says mayor

Nearly a quarter of the town's population works in oil and gas, butdespite thelayoffs,local government is calling the economic downturn an"enlightenment."

"We always have been an energy community. Now we understand the world that we're living in and the opportunity that exists," Lindop said.

"We're in a period of transition, and that's a very awkward time to be in.

"The future is greenthere's just no doubt about that. We want to be part of that," saidLindop.