SolarBC Offers $Millions in Solar Incentives

Victoria, BC – The BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) joined the BC government today in proudly announcing the launch of the SolarBC solar hot water program. Over the next two years SolarBC will facilitate the installation of over 2,000 solar systems in homes around BC with significant financial support from the provincial and federal governments.
SolarBC’s residential project kicks off a comprehensive SolarBC program that will include incentives for municipalities, social housing, First Nations and schools. The 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,” said SolarBC executive director Nitya Harris. “Together with these communities we will launch training and outreach programs that will build capacity and raise awareness of solar hot water.”
SolarBC offers a $1,000 point-of-sale discount to individual households on solar hot water installations. SolarBC incentives are now available and can be combined with an additional $500 from the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program and $125 from the LiveSmart BC Program.
“We want to sincerely thank our government partners, and in particular the Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources, who have made this program possible,” said BCSEA president Guy Dauncey.” SolarBC will help BC residents save money and energy while reducing their carbon emissions.”
To ensure a high level of customer care, our discount is available on systems installed by contractors who are registered with SolarBC. Full information is available at www.SolarBC.ca <http://www.SolarBC.ca> .
SolarBC is a program of the BC Sustainable Energy Association, a non-profit society of citizens, professionals and practitioners committed to promoting the understanding, development and adoption of sustainable energy, energy efficiency and conservation in British Columbia. The SolarBC residential project is being delivered in collaboration with energy Services Company Eaga Canada Services Inc. Eaga is an employee-owned social enterprise that has designed and delivered energy saving programs since 1990.
– 30 –
More information contact:
Peter Ronald, BCSEA Coordinator
250-744-2720
pronald@bcsea.org
Guy Dauncey, BCSEA President
250-881-1304
guydauncey@earthfuture.com
About SolarBC
The SolarBC program will provide a comprehensive market transformation program for solar hot water in British Columbia.
The program will integrate 5 projects targeting individual households, government buildings, first nations groups, social housing, and schools; and will see all levels of government, non-profits and industry stakeholders come together to collaborate on a solar hot water strategy with critical and long-lasting results. This initiative will also leverage the federal ecoEnergy funds that have been secured by three separate projects in B.C. A few of the tangible outcomes of this initiative are: a measurable reduction in CO2 and other key greenhouse gas emissions; displacement of traditional electricity and natural gas; generation of electricity; creation of jobs; economic growth in communities; and the creation of Solar Communities across B.C.
Learn more at: http://www.solarbc.ca