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SMITHERS – The Government of British Columbia is investing $1 million over the next three years into a program designed to help homeowners replace older, smoky woodstoves with new, cleaner burning models, Bulkley Valley-Stikine MLA Dennis MacKAY announced today.
“The success of the woodstove exchange relies on our partnership with communities and municipal governments,” said MacKAY. “The B.C. government is providing the tools – and the funding – for communities to start a program designed to suit their local needs.”
The Provincial Woodstove Exchange Program (PWEP) has as its initial goal the exchange of 50,000 old woodstoves for newer, more fuel-efficient models or other clean heat sources. This step alone will reduce particulate matter (PM) air pollution by 3,100 tonnes a year.
“Proper operation of woodstoves improves their performance,” said Environment Minister Barry Penner. “That’s why homeowners will receive information on how to use their new stoves more efficiently and economically, which will help improve air quality while providing savings in their fuel costs and insurance rates.”
The Burn It Smart education program is a mandatory part of the PWEP, and government will provide participant communities with marketing guides and materials, ideas for community-based activities and tools for evaluating the program’s success. Local governments and community groups will also receive model bylaws to help with PWEP implementation, and with general airshed planning.
“We’re sponsoring communities to help them design their own programs,” added Penner. “The woodstove exchange is another key component of government’s plan to maintain and improve air quality in B.C.”
The PWEP is based on the successful pilot
program established in the Skeena – Bulkley Valley Lakes District. It is
expected by the end of this year that this pilot project will have exchanged at
least 200 old stoves for lower-emitting alternatives, and cleared 18.86 tonnes
of fine particulate pollution from the air in that region.
Visit http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/car/epd/air/woodstove/index.html for further details on how communities can get involved in the Provincial Woodstove Exchange Program and the Burn It Smart education campaign.
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Manager, Media Relations Ministry of Environment 250 953-4577 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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