Climate action plan project awarded two grants totalling $150,000

Summerland’s comprehensive climate action planning project has received a big boost thanks to two recently awarded grants totalling $150,000.

The district has been awarded a $125,000 grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Climate Innovation Program and $25,000 from FortisBC’s Strategic Community Energy Planning Initiative, sustainability and alternative energy co-ordinator Tami Rothery told council Monday.

Both awards support the district’s comprehensive climate action planning project.

The project includes comprehensive analysis of the energy use of district buildings and fleet, and will assist the district in progressing through the milestones of FCM’s Partners for Climate Protection Program, Rothery explained.

The project’s outcomes include reduction of corporate energy use, costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Work on the project will begin in late 2018 or early 2019 and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2019.

“The various aspects of the project will involve input from many stakeholders, including council and its committees, the public, staff, and experts providing technical expertise and input,” Rothery said.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $190,500, including staff time, materials and consultants.

The district’s contribution of $40,500 is made up of $18,000 worth of staff time and a cash contribution of $22,500 from the district’s climate action reserve fund.