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Alberta government increases rebates for solar energy projects

Nov 13, 2018 | 4:04 PM

EDMONTON — The provincial government will be increasing funding for solar power programs in Alberta.

The province announced on Monday that Energy Efficiency Alberta will be increasing rebates for solar power installations, and will be providing $7.5 million to the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre to help municipalities in the province develop solar projects.

“Alberta is an energy province, and our investments in renewable energy have spurred unbelievable growth in the solar industry,” said Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, in a news release. “We are supporting hundreds of jobs, saving Albertans money on energy bills and contributing to our renewable energy targets set out in our Climate Leadership Plan. Albertans are eager to install solar, and provincial programs make it that much easier.”

According to the province, approximately 3,100 installations of solar energy projects have been completed since 2015, with solar capacity increasing from six megawatts to 35 megawatts in three years.

Energy Efficiency Alberta will be increasing solar rebate levels by 15 per cent for residences (to 90 cents per watt) and 25 per cent for non-profits (to $1 per watt). The per-project cap for businesses and non-profits has also been raised from $500,000 to $1 million. More information about solar rebates can be found here.

The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre will also be providing a rebate incentive of 25 cents per watt for first-time applicants to the Alberta Municipal Solar Program. The program has supported 60 projects in 28 municipalities, resulting in an estimated annual savings to municipalities of over $675,000 on power bills, according to the release.