The Town of Okotoks is one of three communities taking part in a brand new government energy case study project.

Along with the City of Guelph and the University of Waterloo, Okotoks will be a part of the Natural Resources Canada Smart Cities Case Study.

The Town was named a finalist for the project thanks to their solar energy development in Drake Landing to be a part of the study.

CAO Rick Quail says the study is an exciting project for the Town to be a part of.

"It's focus is on utilizing smart energy networks," he says. "Its about developing tools, technologies and information, its going to help support development, assessment and the optimization of generation distribution around heat, electricity and gas at the community level.

Quail says this project goes beyond the use of solar energy in communities.

"You're looking at a compilation of renewable energy technologies that would provide for optimal use and this is an extension of that so there will be definitely be solar, there could be Geo-thermal technologies that are used, there's a whole gamete associated with this."

Quail says as the study progresses Natural Resources Canada will be looking to see what kind of renewable energy technologies could do in being the power source for an entire neighborhood community.

"At this point in time the commitment is to work with the respect  to the research application of them and we'll see what we can do in terms of interesting a developer or community to put in the ground this application of these technologies."

Council approved the go-ahead to be a part of the study during last Monday's meeting.