City takes action on budget climate commitments
May. 23/23
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
May. 23/23
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
Edmontonians looking to add solar panels to their rooftops can now apply for rebates through the Change for Climate Solar Program, which opened May 8. Residents can access $1.96 million in new funding to generate local renewable energy at home, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and move Edmonton towards a net zero future.
The additional funding brings the total amount of the Solar Rebate Program to $6 million since 2019, with 1,211 residents participating to date.
“City Council committed $27 million to climate action in the 2023-2026 budget - and, it’s critical we do everything we can to combat climate change and to encourage residents to participate when they can in climate change mitigation,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “Programs like the Solar Rebate move us closer to our net zero targets and are also important to the economy as they help catalyze the net zero renovation industry, creating jobs and economic growth for the city.”
The Solar Rebate Program is in effect until funds are fully committed. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Homeowners who completed installation of solar arrays during the program closure may be eligible to apply for rebates as long as they are still within the one-year window of their interconnection approval date. This supports homeowners who intended to apply over the past five months. Applicants are encouraged to review the full program terms and conditions to confirm their eligibility.
In addition, Edmontonians are encouraged to participate in the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, a federal program that offers up to $5,000 in grants and up to $40,000 in interest-free loans for home energy retrofits and for installing renewable energy systems.
City Council declared a climate emergency on August 27, 2019 to reaffirm its commitment to making Edmonton a climate resilient city, and to accelerate Edmonton’s actions to do our part to contribute to limiting average global warming to 1.5°C, in alignment with the Paris Agreement targets. The City has set an aggressive target in the Community Energy Transition Strategy to be carbon neutral in its corporate operations by 2040 and for the entire community to produce net zero GHG emissions by 2050. These programs help Edmonton move toward those aggressive targets.
