Municipalities
The SolarBC program now offers an incentive for Municipalities that are interested in installing solar hot water on municipal buildings.
The SolarBC Incentive for Municipalities is funded by the Government of British Columbia, and is delivered in cooperation with Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program. This collaboration provides a one-stop service to BC applicants who plan to install a qualifying solar water system at an eligible property. The SolarBC Program is delivered by the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA).
The SolarBC incentive for municipalities will be available from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2011.
How much is the SolarBC incentive for Municipalities?
The SolarBC incentive matches the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat incentive to a maximum of $40,000. The incentive is calculated as follows: Performance Factor x Incentive Rate x collector area = anticipated incentive amount. Performance Factor is the predetermined factor for the collector installed. This factor can be found on the List of Accepted Collectors. The performance factor attributed to the collector that you have selected will be valid as of the date of reception of your CDI-2008 application.
Incentive Rate is the incentive per m2 for each collector type. Find the collector rate on the Incentive Rate table. Area is the total installed collector area in square meters. In the case of municipalities and not-for-profit applicants, the total project funding from all levels of government is limited to 100 per cent of eligible project costs.
Who qualifies for the SolarBC incentive?
A municipality located in B.C., which qualifies for a financial incentive for the installation of a solar water system under the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program is eligible for the SolarBC program. To qualify for the SolarBC program, an applicant must first be approved for a Contribution Agreement under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program.
How do I apply for the SolarBC Incentive?
An applicant must submit to NRCan:
- A signed ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat Application Form found at: www.ecoaction.gc.ca
- A signed BCSEA Consent and Release Form.
Both federal and provincial forms must be submitted together to ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat.
N.B.: An applicant does not have to submit any information to SolarBC.
NRCan will review these forms and will inform SolarBC of its decision as to whether or not to fund the project. Once it receives confirmation that the project will be funded by NRCan, SolarBC will then issue a program acceptance letter to the applicant.
When do I receive my SolarBC incentive?
Once the project is commissioned and the amount payable under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat is approved by NRCan, NRCan will inform SolarBC program administrators that it is initiating payment of the rebate to the applicant under the terms of the NRCan Contribution Agreement. The SolarBC program administrators will then initiate the SolarBC incentive payment to the applicant.
Will information from my application be kept private?
Yes. Signed BCSEA Consent Forms authorize NRCan and BCSEA to share information. It will be managed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in British Columbia and the federal Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.
As public funds are used to support the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat and SolarBC programs, projects that have Contribution Agreements may be posted on NRCan's and/or SolarBC web sites. The information posted may include the name of the recipient, type of system installed, location of installation, projected system output, government contribution amounts and expected or actual date of commissioning of the system.
Whom can I contact with my questions?
For more information about this program, please contact nharris@solarbc.ca
For ecoEnergy Program Eligibility and Qualifying Products, please contact:
Fax: 1-613-943-6517 or email: ecoenergyrhp@nrcan.gc.ca
Other funding available for Municipal Solar Hot Water Installations
BC Local Government Infrastructure Planning Grant Program, up to $10,000.
This program offers funding for local government planning activities that support energy and climate change action. Infrastructure Planning Grants are provided for projects to study the feasibility, costs, technology, and location of proposed sewer, water, drainage, transportation, or other local government infrastructure. The grants can be used for community energy planning or energy related feasibility studies.
Contact: Ministry of Community Services Municipal Engineering Services at (250) 387-4060 or email infra@gov.bc.ca
Build Canada Fund
The Building Canada Fund – Communities Component Agreement is part of the $2.2 billion Building Canada Framework Agreement of 2007. Under the agreement, the provincial and the federal governments will each allocate $136 million to support local government infrastructure projects in communities with a population of less than 100,000 people. This 10 year funding program spans from 2007 to 2017, and is focused on cleaner air and water, safer roads, shorter commutes, prosperous communities, and livable communities, including green energy. Projects will be selected through an application-based process and will be evaluated on the extent to which they meet environmental, economic, and quality of life objectives. It is important that projects are sustainable in regard to how they are planned, designed, constructed, operated, maintained and managed. Funding Available: $272M over 10 years.
Contact: Province of BC at 250-952-0675 or email infra@gov.bc.ca
(www.bcbuildingcanadafundcommunities.ca)
Gas Tax Agreement – Community Works Fund
Established to support local priorities in alignment with the desired outcomes of reduced GHG emissions, cleaner air and cleaner water. The program provides funding directly to eligible local governments, with no application required. Level of funding to local governments depends on their Tier as defined by the Gas Tax Agreement. Funding Available: $191 million over 5 years.
Contact: Union of British Columbia Municipalities Brenda Gibson, General Manager at (250) 356-0862 or email bgibson@civicnet.bc.ca
Gas Tax Agreement – Innovations Fund
The Innovations Fund is established to support projects that reflect an innovative approach to achieving the intended outcomes of reduced GHG emissions, cleaner air and cleaner water. Grants may fund up to 100% of project costs. Some funding is reserved for local government capacity building and integrated community sustainability planning. Funding Available: $32 million over 5 years. $1.6 million reserved for capacity building and integrated community sustainability planning.Contact: Union of British Columbia Municipalities Brenda Gibson, General Manager at (250) 356-0862 or email bgibson@civicnet.bc.ca
Towns For Tomorrow
The Province is providing $21 million for BC’s smaller communities to improve local infrastructure. Grants are available for capital investments that enhance community infrastructure, including environmental energy improvements. Eligible costs include engineering, design, capacity building and construction costs. Funding Available: $21M over 3 years, through 2009. Grants cover 80% of cost up to $400,000. Application deadline generally occurs in March.
Contact: Ministry of Community Services at 250-387-4060 or email infra@gov.bc.ca
