T'Sou-ke First Nations

SolarBC is in its final months of the program, and federal incentives for solar thermal will run out at the end of this year. In addition, the solar thermal industry in Canada has suffered over this summer with the sudden cut to the ecoEnergy retrofit program on April 1, 2010. The Minister of Natural Resources, Christian Paradis, has indicated he will support us in asking for funding in the upcoming budget if the industry can use the summer to meet with their local MP's to convince them to support the industry's request. This work is critical and his office has been clear - we need to ensure local MPs will support any request the Minister puts forward.

There’s a solar revolution happening in BC as local governments around the province are passing resolutions to sign on to the new Solar Hot Water Regulation bylaw.

The regulation requires all new single family homes (where applicable) to be built to accommodate future installation of a solar hot water system for water heating. Communities signed on so far are:

SolarBC would like to give a huge thank-you to the communities and organizations that participated in this year's activities and for their hard work in organizing and implementing their Solar Days events, all of which has been a fantastic success on a whole. As well, all of our homeowners who hosted the open houses deserve a province-wide round of applause! Many were not expecting the huge crowds that came out and for their generosity and hospitality, as well as their enthusiasm in sharing their solar experiences with others we are very grateful.

Please keep an eye on our website for future pictures of all the events, which we will be posting as we get them in.

We hope you are as excited as we are for this year’s BC Solar Days!

Four mayors and one chief have installed solar hot water on their homes in BC and most recent to join the solar revolution is Mayor Sharon Shepherd, in Kelowna. "I have been an advocate of solar for our city and felt I should look at the opportunity to do it in my own home," she says. Mayor Shepherd is no stranger to solar - when she and her husband first purchased their home in Kelowna in the late 70s, they installed solar to an outdoor pool. Back then, she said, solar was a new technology that was getting a lot of attention but the attention dwindled in the 80s. "It’s been reintroduced so we’re enthused about having it on the home."

SolarBC is proud to recognize the T'Souke First Nations as our eighth SolarBC Solar Community, an announcement made earlier in July during the First Nations' Solar Gathering. According to Ellen Perkins, who was in attendance at the open house, which showcased the recent solar hot water and PV installs in the community that make up a 75 KW solar array, it was an inspirational gathering.

"My favourite moment was seeing all of their panels from a fork lifter they had brought to take individuals up into the air for a better view," she said.