BC Invests $5 Million in SolarBC Program

The Province is investing $5 million in the SolarBC program to encourage the installation of solar hot water heaters in homes, municipal buildings, schools, social housing and First Nations communities, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld announced on Friday, July 18.

Pictured (left to right): Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; Calvin Kruk, Mayor of Dawson Creek; Chief Roland Willson, West Moberly First Nation; Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Community Development.

"The SolarBC program supports the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and builds on the BC Energy Plan commitment for electricity self-sufficiency," said Neufeld. "This is a great example of how B.C. is a leader in the alternative energy sector, and how solar can play a significant role in our future energy supply."

"Communities throughout the province will benefit from a clean, renewable and climate- friendly source of energy," said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Community Development and MLA for Peace River South. "By harnessing solar power, we are promoting a sustainable environment."

Solar hot water systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about one tonne per year for a single family home using natural gas for water heating. The increased use of solar energy technology is part of a broader sustainable energy strategy that will help the Province reach its goal to curb greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020. SolarBC also supports the BC Energy Plan conservation target to acquire 50 per cent of BC Hydro's resource needs through conservation by 2020.

"SolarBC is leading a comprehensive program to promote the deployment of solar technologies," said Nitya C. Harris, executive director of SolarBC. "This funding will help us achieve the goal of widespread adoption of solar hot water systems throughout B.C."

The investment for homes and First Nations communities is also being supported by additional funding from Natural Resources Canada's eco-Energy Renewable Heat Program.

SolarBC Residential Project Launch

Over the next two years, SolarBC will be facilitating the installation of over 2,000 solar hot water systems in homes around the province.

The SolarBC residential project is kicking off a comprehensive SolarBC program that will include incentives for municipalities, social housing, first nations, and schools. Our goal is to influence policy and building regulations, reduce barriers to the widespread adoption of solar hot water, and achieve a market transformation for solar hot water technologies in British Columbia.

We will be establishing five Solar Communities that will take on a leadership role and act as flagship communities in the province. Together with these communities, we will launch training and outreach programs that will build capacity and raise awareness of solar hot water.

SolarBC is proud to announce that we are offering a $1,000 point-of-sale discount to individual households on solar hot water installations. SolarBC incentives will be available from the end of June, and can be combined with an additional $500 from the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program and $125 from the LiveSmart Program. To ensure a high level of customer care, our discount is available on systems installed by contractors that are registered with SolarBC.