Solar Communities

SolarBC Has Established 16 Solar Communities Across BC

These communities have taken a leadership role in developing the market for Solar Hot Water and raising awareness of SolarBC. The SolarBC Communities project is a part of the SolarBC Program, which has a goal of transforming the market for solar hot water systems in B.C. We are providing up to $20,000, plus assistance for marketing, training and solar policy development to our selected 9 communities: Dawson Creek, Kelowna, North Vancouver, Saanich, Tofino, T'Sou-ke First Nations, Vancouver, Whistler and West Moberley First Nations.

SolarBC is proud to work alongside these exemplary communities and excited to develop our relationship with them over the next three years!

A total of 19 municipalities and First Nations applied to be a SolarBC community, including seven First Nations, one joint municipal/First Nations and 11 municipal applications.

The selection criteria was based on multiple factors that included, solar targets, actions and initiatives proposed, intention to apply for other grants to help implement the solar hot water initiatives, participation in Community Action on Energy and Emissions and demonstrated commitment and past implementation of solar initiatives in the community. The selection committee members included: Gary Hamer (B.C. Hydro), Laura Porcher (Community Energy Association) and Nitya Harris (SolarBC).

Campbell River

the City of Campbell River’s solar efforts will include promoting SHW and SolarBC incentives to homeowners and developers through workshops, and displays at community events; installing SHW on up to five municipal buildings; increasing knowledge of Solar hot water...

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Dawson Creek

Right now, Dawson Creek is exploring options for installation of solar hot water systems on commercial buildings. They are also identifying the need for policy tools, bylaws and financing options for this and other renewable energy improvements...

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Delta

Delta will promote the use of solar hot water in a number of way including: using the municipal installation as a demonstration project, holding an information session for builders and developers, providing solar information with building and development permits...

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Fort St John

The City of Fort St. John has ambitious plans to change bylaws and the Official Community Plan (OCP) to facilitate solar hot water installations. The recently completed Community Energy and Emissions Plan includes guidelines for solar hot water in development permit areas...

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Grand Forks

During the Solar Energy Forum held last year, 250 community members came out to show their support and with the help of the Grand Forks Economic Development Task Force Solar Team, solar and geothermal components are being planned for the downtown core...

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Invermere

As a solar community, the district plans to install SHW on a washroom building to reduce electricity use. Council has dedicated two staff members to move the solar initiative forward and allocated funding to facilitate a solar feasibility analysis for municipal buildings...

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Kelowna

A Solar Steering Committee has been implemented as part of the SolarBC Community initiative and among other plans is the installation retrofit of solar hot water to the Athans Aquatic Center...

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Nanaimo

The RDN and member municipalities will target 20 residential solar hot water systems in the region by April 2011. As work proceeds on the Regional Community Energy and Emissions Plan, each jurisdiction will set its own target for solar hot water systems...

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North Vancouver

Among the District’s initiatives are the inclusion of solar in the new green building policy, the consideration of financial tools to promote solar hot water, training of permitting staff to facilitate the installation of systems, inclusion of solar awareness...

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Richmond

Richmond is developing a comprehensive Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) to be completed by the end of 2010. The CEEP scope of work includes an examination of solar potential in the community...

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Saanich

In 2002, Saanich was the first municipality in the region to install solar powered pedestrian beacons. Forty-four pedestrian beacons now operate in Saanich entirely "off the grid," even in the dark winter months...

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Tofino

Tofino endeavours to lead the way by demonstrating how small local governments can achieve big results and their high profile will help when spread the word about solar hot water to other small communities in BC...

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T'Sou-ke First Nation

The T'Sou-ke First Nation has outfitted 25 homes along with the fish hatchery, the community hall, band hall and canoe shed with PV and solar thermal units. Not only that, almost all of the install work was completed by community members themselves...

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Vancouver

Vancouver has taken great leadership in the development of solar demonstration projects as well as mandating that all new homes be built solar ready. The city’s Solar Homes Strategy is currently financing up to 50 per cent (about $3500) of the cost of installing a solar hot water system...

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West Moberly First Nation

Through the SolarBC Community project, training opportunities will be provided for West Moberly in four main components of training, knowledge sharing, public outreach and installation planning...

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Whistler

Among the solar initiatives the city has developed is the installation of solar parking meters throughout Whistler Village, a solar powered self-compacting waste disposal bin and development and integration of Solar Access Protection Guidelines for Whistler Village...

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