The BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council

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BC Minister for Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Hon. Randene Neill met with local government elected officials about what priorities and concerns are coming forward from communities and how governments can work together to find solutions.

Watch the full meeting recording

Watch the full meeting recording

Meeting Objective: Connecting BC local elected officials for sharing resources and information 

Meeting Topics: Reflections on the BC election; updates from BC Hydro; support on ZCSC 

Highlights: 

• Andrea Reimer gave some insightful reflections on the evolving outcomes post-election(s) and offered three aspects that people can focus their time and energy on for remaining optimistic towards the future: 

1. Knowledge is power
2. Invest in and care for your networks
3. Continue to build new relationships

• Overview of some of the new Ministers/Ministries & Committees and emphasizing the importance of reaching out to your MLA to make a personal connection 

• BC Hydro updating their Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) every 18 months to maintain flexibility within load forecast planning and adjusting to the rapidly changing landscape around electrification supply and demand – opportunities coming soon for engagement with local governments on the new IRP 

• Call for Power received project applications totalling 9000 GWh – 3X the capacity needed: 

• 70% applications were wind 

• 20% solar 

• Remaining mix of small-scale hydro, biomass, etc. 

• Expect to award purchase agreements by end of the year; projects hope to come online by Fall 2028: Successful Call for Power Applicants News Release 

• BC Hydro Solar & Battery Storage System Rebates: up to $10,000 

• Optional “Time-of-Day Rate” explained 

• Zero Carbon Step Code (ZCSC) & Energy Step Code Overviews 

• Clarification of what the steps of the ZCSC mean on the ground 

• Dialogue between elected officials 

• Additional links shared: 

• Building a Legacy North 

• Vernon HomeZero Collective 

• BC Retrofit Accelerator 

• Retrofit Assist Program 

• CleanBC Better Homes Program 

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Introduction: A dialogue with Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation 

Meeting Objective: Facilitate connection between the Province and communities, to share thoughts and opportunities for collaboration —particularly opportunities related to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation mandate and Powering our Future: BC’s Clean Energy Strategy 

Highlights:  

• Call for power to diversify clean energy sources was designed alongside First Nations and has a required minimum 25% share of equity ownership for First Nations, successful bids to be announced in December 2024 
• BC Hydro’s Rate Design Application currently under review by BC Utilities Commission – proposing a Community Generation Service Rate to compensate customers for excess generation of a shared community energy project 
• Breakout room discussions: affordability; lack of capacity in small local governments to drive transformation; microgrids/small-scale distributive generation to increase resiliency of small towns and rural areas; planning for a resilient future in the North and for large industry; importance of energy conservation; solar energy to manage rural-urban divide in heating; investing in rural transit; recognition of the need for a diversified suite of options for the energy transition 

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Introduction:

A dialogue with Hon. Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. This meeting was held to facilitate connection between the Province of BC and communities, to share thoughts on climate action and resiliency and the opportunities they can bring—particularly opportunities related to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship mandate. 

Highlights: 

• The Honourable Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship gave a few opening remarks and then participated in a fulsome dialogue with participants answering questions and addressing concerns on issues within his mandate 

• Province put $100 million into BC Watershed Security Fund as an endowment 

• Concerns raised: water in the sphere of forestry management, wild salmon conservation, ground licensing for agriculture, cross-party commitment to reconciliation 

• Legislation for conservation using an ecosystem-based approach is under development with input from First Nations 

• Presentation from Coree Tull, BC Watershed Security Coalition 

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Introduction

This meeting was held to connect BC elected officials (and municipal staff) and establish shared concerns, motives, goals, and mandates on climate action. The session included the following presenters: 

• The Province’s Climate Action Secretariat on the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) Funding announcement for accelerating action in your community; 
• BC Hydro on their new capital plan investments and the new Call for Power; 
• CEA demonstrated the new BC Community Climate Action Dashboard tool that will help local governments better track and plan for climate action. The goal of the Dashboard is to help local governments develop best practices, foster peer learning and leverage climate action by sharing what communities are doing. The Dashboard contains real-world data on the actions local governments in BC are taking and is geared toward local government staff and elected officials.

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Meeting Purpose: Provide a channel for elected officials to get the most up-to-date information on the future of low carbon energy in BC.  

Introduction 

Local governments play a huge role in the direction their communities go in becoming more resilient in the face of climate change. As elected leaders you want to do the right thing by your community, but sometimes it can be hard to decipher what is the best route to take to get to the ultimate end goal of a safe, resilient, affordable, and healthy community where everyone thrives, and no one is left behind.  

Concerns about decarbonization of the energy sector and BC Hydro’s ability to meet the growing demand for low carbon electrification of energy in BC is on all elected officials’ mind these days as we work towards decarbonization targets. If you have questions or find yourself in debate with others about the future of low carbon energy in BC, then this webinar is for you!  

The BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council (BCMCLC) invited elected officials to learn the most up-to-date information from BC Hydro on the future of BC’s electrification plans. The Pembina Institute also joined to share their recent report on the role of renewable natural gas (RNG) in achieving a net-zero built environment. 

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View the agenda

Community Energy Association facilitated a BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council Network meeting on May 17, 2023. This meeting for locally elected officials focused on the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code and how communities can lead in stepping up energy efficiency and carbon performance in new construction. 

Shared Web Resources and Links: 

• Support for Step Code Implementation, Building a Legacy North: www.communityenergy.ca/bal-north 
• For more information about the BC Building Code Changes: https://www.communityenergy.ca/bc-building-code-changes/