Province easing financial barriers to greener homes
Mayor Naheed Nenshi says he expects Calgary will embrace a new program aimed at making it easier for property owners to finance energy efficient upgrades for their home.
Alberta’s NDP government introduced legislation Thursday to let municipalities set up a program that would allow homes, farms and businesses to repay the costs of upgrades such as solar panels, highefficiency windows and efficient heating and cooling systems over time through an additional charge on their property tax bills.
The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program allows the improvements to be made with no money down, with homeowners able to repay the costs with the savings that come from the improved energy efficiency.
Participation is optional for municipalities but Nenshi said he expects council to sign on to the program once it is fully fleshed out next year.
“We’ve seen Calgarians, both businesses and homeowners, are interested in reducing their longterm costs . . . sometimes the challenge has been the entry price is too high,” he said at the program announcement at a Calgary solar company, SkyFire Energy.
“As people are concerned about emissions, as we see changes in the cost of traditional energy in the city, more people will start to look at this.”
The PACE program will be administered through the provincial agency Energy Efficiency Alberta, with loans provided by financial institutions.
While the costs will include interest, the government says rates will be low because a number of lenders will be involved in the program and the expenses represent a fixed capital cost.
Consultations will be held over the spring and summer to develop regulations, and the program is expected to be in place by 2019.
The initiative falls under the NDP government’s climate leadership plan, though the province can’t put a number on its protected effect on greenhouse gas emissions at this point.
Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said she thinks there will be enthusiasm for the program throughout Alberta, not just in Calgary and Edmonton, where a separate announcement was held Thursday with Mayor Don Iveson.
“PACE can be successful in any municipality, rural or urban, and we hope this program will take off in communities across the province. We are giving communities a choice. Absolutely,” she told reporters in Calgary.
The program has the support of the Alberta Construction Association and the Building Industry and Land Development Association.
SkyFire CEO David Kelly said the cost of moving an average home to solar-powered electricity with panels is about $11,000 to $12,000 after existing provincial rebates.
PACE can be successful in any municipality, rural or urban, and we hope this program will take off in communities across the province.
The first PACE program was started in California in 2008 and the idea has been followed by many American jurisdictions, along with Toronto and Halifax.