Live Free
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Alternate Power Systems in the Heart of the Peace
N.A.P.S. Solar Store | MD of Fairview
From the rural setting that they affectionately call their Old MacDonald Farm, Corinne Moor and Sam Glauser operate Northern Alternate Power Systems (N.A.P.S.) Solar Store to help customers across Canada integrate renewable energy into their homes and properties.
“We live on a small ranch west of Fairview and raise sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits,” said Moor. “We also have a horse, dogs, cats, a Jersey cow and her calves.”
N.A.P.S. Solar Store may be based in the Peace Region today, but the business was founded in 1985 in Pink Mountain, BC. At that time, solar power was still new and unfamiliar to most people.
“[Founder] Bob McCormick was a pioneer in the solar business,” said Glauser. “Even in the ‘80s and ‘90s he was selling his products worldwide.”
After McCormick retired in 2001, the business was sold and then eventually purchased by Moor and Glauser in 2008. By that time, the couple had already been living off-grid for years, gaining firsthand experience that would later define their approach to solar design.
“We moved to our land in Scotswood [in the MD of Fairview] in 1996, and there was no grid power to it,” said Moor. “We couldn’t afford to hook up to the grid, so we looked into solar power.”
Their first system was purchased from McCormick, and over time it grew and evolved as their needs changed. Living with solar power every day taught them lessons no textbook could.
“We learned about solar power from living with it,” said Glauser.
Today, N.A.P.S. Solar Store specializes in the design and sale of off-grid solar systems tailored to each customer’s needs. They also design and supply grid-tie systems and offer energy-efficient appliances suitable for off-grid applications.
“We design systems based on what the customer actually needs,” said Moor. “No two situations are the same.”
Their service begins with consultations, either over the phone or directly at the customer’s property, to assess how renewable energy can be integrated into a home or business.
“Our customers can expect a system designed to their needs,” said Glauser. “It’s about using quality components and making sure the system fits how they live.”
Experience sets N.A.P.S. Solar Store apart. Moor and Glauser continue to take regular educational courses to stay current in renewable energy.
“Living off the grid for almost 30 years gives you a lot of experience,” said Moor. “You really understand what works in the long run.”
Their work has taken them well beyond the Peace Region. One project they are particularly proud of involved supplying renewable energy systems to Inuit communities in Nunavut.
“The Nunavut government offered a grant for renewable energy cabin systems, and we ended up designing and supplying dozens of systems,” said Glauser. “We were very pleased with the feedback.”
Another standout project was closer to home—the large grid-tie solar system they installed on a farm near Berwyn.
“It’s a 36-kilowatt grid-tie system that continues to exceed the customer’s expectations,” said Moor. “We did the design, supply and installation.”
Moor and Glauser work with trusted professionals when it’s time to install the systems.
“For the daily business, it’s just the two of us,” said Glauser. “For installations, we work with a certified electrician and a solar installer and his team.”
Although both are at retirement age, neither feels ready to step away from the work just yet.
“We keep going because we love what we do,” said Moor. “It’s great to help like-minded people and meet new customers.”
Looking ahead, their long-term goal is to one day pass the torch.
“We hope to eventually sell the company to someone in the region who is interested in renewable energy,” said Glauser.
For anyone considering off-grid living, Moor and Glauser are honest about the responsibilities that come with it, but they believe the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
“You are the consumer, the producer, and you have to maintain the system,” said Moor. “You need to monitor your consumption and production.”
Despite the adjustments required, they wouldn’t trade the lifestyle.
“It’s so worth it,” said Glauser. “And, we sure don’t miss the monthly electric bills.”
By Amanda Hunter | Photography by Bert Reynolds and Submitted
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