Alberta government to offer $5M boost towards solar energy rebates for farms, municipalities

The Alberta government is adding another plank to its climate-change platform by providing more than $5.5 million to help farms and municipalities install solar panels.

“This is just the beginning,” Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said Friday. “By investing now in proven programs we will be better prepared to ramp up our efforts as the price on carbon pollution is phased in.”
[Bob Weber, The Canadian Press/HUFFINGTON POST]

The money is to defray the cost of setting up solar power in buildings such as offices, fire halls and community centres. The Alberta Municipal Solar Program will provide rebates of up to 75 cents per watt, to a maximum of $300,000 per project. It opens for applications on March 1.
[Emily Mertz/GLOBAL NEWS]

The money extends a program already being offered through the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. That program has already helped six Edmonton community leagues install solar panels, reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 55 tonnes every year.

The agricultural solar program builds on a pilot that saw 61 projects reduce greenhouse gases by more than 360 tonnes and add almost 500 kW of capacity to Alberta’s electricity grid.
[Bob Weber/CALGARY HERALD]

“It’s about doing the right thing for our province” said Shannon Phillips, minister of Environment and Parks, at NAIT’s Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies Friday. “It supports new jobs in a greener more diverse economy.”
[Scott Stevenson/CBC NEWS]