WESTLOCK COUNTY – Patrick Jean is the new Municipal Energy Manager for Westlock County who will be responsible for enhancing energy efficiency, sustainability and resilience across Westlock County’s Municipal facilities and operations.
“We were able to access the Municipal Climate Action Centre (MCCAC) for the two-year position,” Chief Administrative Officer Tony Kulbisky told council during Westlock County’s Committee of the Whole Meeting on Nov. 12.
Jean’s position is geared toward developing practical programs that align with the county’s agricultural roots and foster sustainable growth.
The key objectives of his position are conducting energy audits and benchmarking to identify priority areas for improvements across county facilities.
He will engage with council, county staff and community stakeholders to initiate projects and develop a roadmap for Westlock County’s sustainable energy management strategies.
Jean was born and raised in Donnelly and Falher, Alta. His family moved to Mayerthorpe when he was 11 and he graduated high school in Mayerthorpe in 2000.
He has an extensive agricultural background having worked for farms in Donnelly, Mayerthorpe, Dinsmore and Girouxville.
He studied Electronics Engineering at DeVry Institute of Technology and Holistic Sustainability at MacEwan University. This culminated in his undergraduate thesis that explored whether geothermal heat systems and projects helped stimulate revitalization in small town and rural Alberta.
Jean will collaborate with the CAO and other departments to expand sustainability projects while leveraging grant and funding opportunities such as the Canada Community-Building Fund and the Community Efficiency Capital program.
