$5-MILLION INVESTMENT LAUNCHES SOLARBC

The SolarBC program is administered by the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), a non-profit society of citizens, professionals and practitioners committed to promoting the understanding, development and adoption of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency and conservation in British Columbia (www.solarbc.ca).

The program includes the following projects:

SolarBC Residential Retrofit

· The Residential Retrofit program provides financial incentives to homeowners to install solar water heaters in up to 2,000 homes across B.C.

· It will cost homeowners approximately $6,000 - $7,000 to install a solar water heater in the average home. SolarBC will cover approximately 25 per cent of the costs.

· The system will last 25 – 30 years and will save the homeowner approximately $100 per year.

· Homeowners will need to get a LiveSmart assessment to find out if their home is a good candidate for a solar water heater.

· Once the LiveSmart assessment has been completed, the homeowner will be able to book an installation with a SolarBC qualified installer.

· The installer will give the homeowner a $1,000 rebate at the time of purchase.

· Once the follow up LiveSmart assessment is completed and the installation has been verified as complete, the home owner will then receive a further $500 through the federal ecoEnergy retrofit program and $125 through LiveSmart.

· The federal program is providing half the $1,000 rebate along with the ecoEnergy retrofit incentive.

· The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is providing $2.4 million to SolarBC for this project.

Local Government Solar Thermal Project

· The Local Government Solar Thermal Project targets municipal buildings for the installation of solar hot water systems.

· Applications will be solicited through a request for proposals. Projects will be selected based on greenhouse gas savings and geographic distribution (no more than one project per municipality).

· Preference will be given to installations on buildings such as community and recreation centres that are suitable as demonstration projects and to communities that have been selected as Solar Communities.

· The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is providing $550,000 to SolarBC for this project.

First Nations Solar Project

· Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Residential Pilot Initiative provided the All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO) with $1.4 million to create a financing program to manage the First Nations Solar Project.

· The goal of this project is to install 1,700 solar hot water systems in First Nations communities across Canada by 2010. The target is to install 500 systems in B.C.

· This program will support government’s commitment to reduce the dependence of remote First Nations communities on diesel generators.

· It should result in greenhouse gas emission reductions of over 250 tonnes per year.

· The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is providing $660,000 in funding through SolarBC to support First Nations solar programs. ANTCO has been approached as a potential partner for these programs

Social Housing Solar Project

· The Social Housing Solar Project supports the installation of solar thermal systems in affordable and social housing operators in B.C. The project offers rebates towards the solar thermal system capital and installation costs per unit connected.

· This program will include the installation of solar energy systems on up to 40 low income housing developments across the province. It should result in over 450 tonnes of annual greenhouse gas emission reductions.

· Depending on the region, this program could be combined with low-interest loans available for residential energy efficiency upgrades from credit unions such as Van City and Northern Savings Credit Union.

· Affordable and social housing buildings that have the maximum opportunity for energy savings will be selected for the program. Housing operators should contact SolarBC to obtain application details.

· Buildings that have the maximum opportunity for energy savings will be selected.

· This project is planned to be launched in the fall.

· The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is providing $400,000 in funding to SolarBC, matching the federal dollars from the Natural Resources Canada ecoEnergy renewable heat program.

Solar for Schools Project

· The Solar for Schools project will provide 50 per cent funding for solar hot water installations on up to 50 schools across the province.

· Schools are eligible to apply to NRCAN under the ecoEnergy Renewable Heat Program for a rebate of 25 per cent of project costs. The remaining 25 per cent would be covered by the school district.

· Participating schools will be selected through an open call for submissions to school districts, and selected based on the fuel source and efficiency of their current boiler system and the hot water use load.

· This program will result in annual greenhouse gas emission reductions of four tonnes per school, up to 200 tonnes in total (assuming the displacement of a 50 per cent efficient gas boiler).

· The program would result in annual cost savings to the participating schools of approximately $1,000 per year. The system will pay for itself in five to seven years.

· Installations include heat monitoring equipment, providing an educational tool for students to see renewable energy in action.

· The program will also include funding support for the installation of two 10kw photovoltaic arrays on schools in the province.

· The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is providing $950,000 in funding to SolarBC for this project.

Solar Communities

· Five Solar Communities from across the province will be chosen by RFP to promote solar water heaters. The communities chosen will receive $10,000 - $20,000.

· Solar Communities will commit to installing solar in at least one city building, making their building regulations solar friendly and providing a solar community model that other cities can follow.

· Building and plumbing inspectors in the Solar Communities will be trained to deal with solar water heaters.

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Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell)

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