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Funding available for investments in clean energy
The B.C. government announced August 12 it is accepting applications from local governments, First Nations, Indigenous organizations, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations throughout British Columbia for investments in clean-energy projects.
The projects will support sustainable communities, create good jobs and build back a better, greener, affordable post-pandemic B.C., stated a Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy media release.
The funding will come from the province and the Government of Canada through the CleanBC Communities Fund. It will support locally owned green infrastructure projects that help communities use clean energy and become more energy efficient.
“Investing in green infrastructure, such as electric-vehicle charging stations or clean-energy projects, is essential to providing our kids and grandkids with a healthy sustainable future,” said Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “Together with B.C., we are helping communities in every corner of the province build cleaner, more resilient infrastructure that will make a real difference in people’s lives. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities.”
Starting Wednesday, Aug. 12, the second intake for funding applications is open for projects that manage renewable energy, improve access to clean-energy transportation, improve energy efficiency of buildings or help generate clean energy to reduce community reliance on fossil fuels.
“Our government is helping communities build cleaner, better infrastructure that will support good jobs for people through new clean-energy projects, better transportation options and more efficient buildings and community spaces,” said George Heyman, B.C.’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “This new round of funding will help us build an economic recovery from COVID-19 with communities and First Nations in every corner of the province, focused on people, our climate commitments and a cleaner, better future for everyone.”
The second intake is supported by $25.9 million in federal funding and $21.5 million in provincial funding, for a combined investment up to $47.4 million in clean infrastructure projects in B.C. communities.
The second intake will add to the first round of federal and provincial funding that committed more than $63 million for CleanBC Communities Fund projects. The successful projects from the first intake will be announced soon.
“We’re working together with communities, First Nations and the federal government to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and build a better future for everyone through CleanBC,” said Selina Robinson, B.C.’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By partnering with all orders of government, we’re making sure people have resilient, clean infrastructure and good job opportunities as we begin our recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19.”
The province is administering the CleanBC Communities Fund and will accept funding applications for the second intake until Nov. 12, with approvals expected in 2021.
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