Mitigation Projects

CEA marked Earth Day 2021 by reflecting on the tremendous contributions of local governments to tackling the climate crisis. On this day we also launched our Game-Changer Program. It is just one way we are looking forward to the next decade of accelerated, bold climate action.

The City of Rossland

Welcome to the City of Rossland who, with support from CEA staff, will be developing a Home Energy Leadership Program (HELP) with an initial goal of supporting 100 home-owners to reduce household energy use en route to implementing 100% renewable energy.

Read the full press release here, and we look forward to posting more as we begin to design the project with City staff and officials.

Stay tuned for more recipient announcements!

It’s going to take game-changing innovation to meet local 2030 emissions reduction targets. CEA is ready to change the game.

As a non-profit consultant, we are committed to transforming all proceeds from our work into advancing solutions for community climate action. And now is the time for us to support ambitious communities to implement game-changing climate action innovations. That's why we have developed the CEA Game-Changer Grant. This grant allows us to invest what we’ve saved over the last decade to fund cutting edge actions that utilities, Province, FCM, and others are not set up to fund.

This is the decade of climate action - a critical time to accelerate implementation of proven solutions while testing actions that push the boundaries of local government climate action to create deep emissions reductions.

To learn more about the Game-Changer Grant and how to submit an Expression of Interest, read the full details here. We encourage local governments and First Nations communities to respond.  We understand that the timing associated with this offer won’t work for everyone. CEA is also exploring how we can provide longer-term relationship-based support in the future.  Read the full details here.

For more information, register for the upcoming Game-Changer Webinar on May 4, 2021 at 10:00 am Pacific / 11:00 am Mountain. During the webinar, there will be a Q&A session for details on the grant and EOI submission.

The Game-Changer Grant is just one "Decade of Climate Action" pathway. We are ready to support local governments every step of the way by offering three pathways of community climate action implementation support. This allows us to take current needs and local context into account, ensuring all communities can implement proven solutions for significant emissions reductions and ultimately meet 2030 targets. The 3 pathways are:

Local governments can choose to participate in just one pathway, or maybe have capacity and motivation to apply to all three! Stay tuned for more details about Peer Networks and Big Moves Implementation, or sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date.

In each workshop, participants created a shared vision of how their regions and communities are prepared for and benefiting from the transition to electric mobility. In order to synthesize ideas, participants were tasked to imagine newspaper headlines that articulate the 2040 future state.

Vancouver Island participants envisioned a future with 3 key themes:

Connected communities/ integrated transportation
"10th Year Celebration for Vancouver Island's Electric Train, with final station unveiled in Port Hardy."
"The Island and even the gulf islands are a fully connected with a transportation network."
"New Study Shows: Everyone Has Access to Car but Doesn't Need It."
"Cycle touring from East Coast through Sunshine coast now the most traveled route in BC and it's zero emissions!"
"Vancouver Island Transportation Authority (VITA) celebrates 25th anniversary."
"Game changer: Electric rail eliminates emissions and allows people to move up and down the Island without having to own a car."

Broad electrification
"Last gas station on Vancouver Island is converted to an electric mobility hub."
"Every community on Vancouver Island has EV, Hydrogen, or low carbon infrastructure to connect residents and tourists alike."
"Vancouver Island no Longer Has 'Charging Deserts'."
"Vancouver Island the first jurisdiction to reach ZEV mandate targets."
"Whether by air or by sea people visiting the Island can make every trip via electrification."
"Because VI has shifted to electric transportation biodiversity is regenerating."

Renewable energy
"Vancouver Island achieves zero grid power usage for first time since Power Resilience Initiative Kicked Off."
"100% of travel on Vancouver Island now powered by renewable energy."
"VI eliminates the need to import fossil fuels for transportation sector."

Central/North participants envisioned a future with 3 key themes:

Broad electrification
"1/4 reduction in vehicles on the roads in Kamloops because of improved mobility infrastructure (bikes, scooters, etc.)."
"The last local government fleet vehicle is electrified."
"Provincial and Private Campground Association fully bans diesel generator."
"No new parking spaces are created as people are eliminating car ownership."

Tourism development
"The Gold Rush Trail expansion is electrified into a multi-use recreational trail across the region."
"Central and Northern BC recognized for top 5 bucket list, sustainable, decarbonized, must see destinations in international tourism magazine."
"Electric touring itinerary supports fully integrated route - CanaDream + PE Partnership Celebrates 10 years."
"Hwy 97/16 is rated top recreation route for all e-ventures."

Diverse travel options
"Accessible rail commuting across hwy 16 is a safe and cost effective transportation option."
"Final section of Induction Charging completed on Highway 97."
"All main streets in the region are pedestrian only and primarily access by electric micro mobility."

After thinking about the unique characteristics of their region and defining specific strengths or opportunities, stakeholders moved to articulating prototype ideas.

Vancouver Island stakeholders talked about current momentum and rate of adoption of EVs on the island as well as a history of regional collaboration and current congestion. These characteristics are just a few reasons noted as unique opportunities that can be leveraged when designing prototype projects.

Central/North BC stakeholders noted the vast wilderness with existing assets like campgrounds and anchor communities. The region has unique opportunity to leverage connectivity and wild, natural spaces to build zero emission tourism destinations/experiences.

While stakeholders in each session envisioned several potential prototypes, in the end the following were voted as presenting the biggest opportunity:

1. ZEV delivery zones - smaller EVs deliver goods to city centres (cargo bike delivery into city centres)
2. Regional e-bike and recreational sea-side tourism route.
3. Fully built out EV and e-bike charging infrastructure network for the region. (Bike rentals at campgrounds to bike into town for goods, recreation)
   

1. EV route between PG and Kamloops - pick up your E-camper and e-bikes.
2. Bike loop connecting sun peaks, Kamloops, Logan Lake and other rec sites/campsites. carshare hubs strategically located to allow air travelers to do multi-day trips without a car.
3. Quesnel campground - e-mobility hub to support low carbon regional biking and recreation.

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We look forward to sharing how these pilot project evolve, in particular how community stakeholders build relationships to move the concepts toward implementation. With thanks again to BC Hydro for funding this innovative approach to building regional capacity and momentum toward electric mobility.

Project Partners:

• North Coast Regional District
• Kitimat-Stikine Regional District
• Regional District of Bulkley Nechako
• Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
• Cariboo Regional District
• Thompson-Nicole Regional District
• Federation of Canadian Municipalities
• BC Hydro
• BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
• Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT)

Local governments making infrastructure plans that recover energy and resources from waste can use this resource to access a multitude of information including technology, case studies and funding support. This guide was compiled by CEA with the generous support of the Province of B.C. - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and our team is grateful to the project advisory committee who guided the direction of the project and provided helpful review and suggestions.

“Closing the Loop” is a guide about capturing value from local government infrastructure by recovering energy and other resources from waste.
This guide builds from past work related to “Integrated Resource Recovery” (IRR), including:

• Resources from Waste: Integrated Resource Management Study (2008)
• Resources from Waste: A Guide to Integrated Resource Recovery (IRR) (2009)
• Integrated Resource Recovery Inventory (2010)

In the ten years since the original study, many local governments have demonstrated that IRR technologies can use solid and liquid waste to create energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, and recover nutrients, while saving money and potentially generating revenue.

“Closing the Loop” places IRR into a broader approach we are calling “regenerative infrastructure”. The approach, and its name, is inspired by the concept of regenerative design, which mimics nature’s processes. In nature, there is no waste, as all resources cycle through closed loop systems and serve a purpose.

There are 4 main sections in the resource: