$10.8 Million Net-Zero Operations Facility Opens Near Exshaw

EXSHAW, Alberta - The Municipal District of Bighorn marked a milestone this week with the opening of a new net-zero operations facility, a federally funded project officials say will transform how the region manages roads, public works, and environmental services while sharply cutting its carbon footprint.

The 13,164-square-foot building, located just west of Exshaw, was made possible through a $10.8 million investment from the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund. The funding package includes a $1.4 million grant and a $9.4 million low-interest loan aimed at accelerating local sustainability projects across the country.

For a small rural municipality like Bighorn, the support represents a rare infusion of federal capital into day-to-day civic infrastructure.

“Canada’s buildings are our third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. “This new net-zero operations facility for the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 will help us achieve our climate goals. Sustainable energy sources like solar and geothermal are an investment in lower ongoing operating costs for the future.”

A Building That Produces as Much Energy as It Uses

The operations centre is designed to achieve both net-zero carbon and net-zero energy, meaning it produces as much power as it consumes over the course of a year.

Solar panels mounted on the roof and on adjacent ground arrays will supply electricity, with surplus energy sold back to the grid. Because the site lacks a natural gas connection, the building relies on a geothermal water-well system paired with water-source heat pumps to handle all heating and cooling needs.

An “airtight and well-insulated envelope” reduces heat loss and lowers overall demand, according to the MD. An energy-modeling assessment from April 2024 suggested the design would deliver 41.5% energy savings compared to the National Energy Code of Canada’s 2017 baseline.

Those improvements translate into significant long-term savings. A feasibility study conducted last year estimated the municipality could avoid $28,000 to $53,000 annually by generating electricity, eliminating natural gas costs, and limiting energy loss through the high-performance building shell.

A Step Toward Long-Term Sustainability

Municipal leaders framed the facility as both a practical investment in operational needs and a symbolic commitment to environmental responsibility.

“This facility represents a significant milestone for the MD of Bighorn,” said Reeve Lisa Rosvold. “It’s not just a building, it’s a statement about our commitment to ensuring our municipal services evolve and being responsible stewards of our environment. By achieving net-zero, we are setting a standard for responsible development.”

The facility will house key municipal departments, including Public Works, Roads, and Agriculture, Environment and Parks. It will allow the MD to consolidate operations under one roof and accommodate expected organizational growth. Staff began moving in back in September after the project was completed ahead of schedule.

Shaina Kelly, the municipality’s chief administrative officer, said the building will reshape how frontline teams work.

“The new operations facility will significantly improve how we deliver services to our residents,” Kelly said. “It provides our team with the space, tools, and technology to work more efficiently and respond to residents’ needs.”

She added that the facility “supports efficient service delivery today, and provides the flexibility to grow with our municipality in the years ahead.”

A Model for Rural Sustainability

Although large cities have led much of the country’s early adoption of net-zero building standards, rural communities have increasingly become testing grounds for practical, cost-effective approaches to renewable energy infrastructure.

Officials from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities said Bighorn’s facility demonstrates how smaller municipalities can adopt proven technologies without taking on unmanageable financial risk.

“The Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8, with the support of the Green Municipal Fund, is showing what's possible when communities invest in proven solutions,” said Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “Net-zero buildings don’t just cut greenhouse gas emissions; they lower operating costs.”

Green Municipal Fund President Rebecca Bligh called the project a national example: “By achieving net-zero carbon and energy use while meeting the operational needs of a growing community, the Municipal District of Bighorn is proving that sustainability and service delivery go hand in hand.”

Created in 2000, the Green Municipal Fund manages approximately $2.4 billion in federal programs, supporting projects that range from affordable housing retrofits to renewable energy generation. Since inception, GMF-supported projects have reduced emissions by nearly three million tonnes, according to the organization.

A Facility Built for the Future

For Bighorn, the new building arrives at a time when rural municipalities across Alberta are grappling with aging infrastructure, rising energy prices, and the increasing unpredictability of extreme weather. Federal officials highlighted the operations centre as a model of how local governments can modernize while keeping long-term operating budgets in check.

“This new net-zero facility sets a model for how communities can build a cleaner, more resilient and more cost-effective future,” Hogan said.

As of this fall, the lights are on, staff are in place, and the geothermal wells are running. The MD describes the facility as both a working hub and a long-term bet: a combination of climate policy, operational necessity, and federal dollars converging in a small but strategically important corner of the Bow Valley.