Whereas the Provinces CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 and BC Hydros Five-Year Electrification Plan, both released in the fall of 2021, promote rebates to purchase electric heat pumps that incentivize British Columbians to switch from using fossil fuels to hydro-electricity to heat their homes and hot water, thus mitigating climate change by reducing GHGs; And whereas there are no equivalent incentives for home and building owners to increase their own supply of renewable energy or to reduce the demand for hydro-electricity, both of which will become increasing important for climate resiliency as BC Hydro has estimated it has sufficient supply of electricity only until 2030; And whereas rebates for home and building owners to install solar hot water systems and solar photovoltaic panels would increase the supply of clean energy as well as reduce energy costs for families and businesses both of which increase climate resiliency: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Government of BC pursue as quickly as possible adding financial incentives, including increased feed-in-tariffs, for home and building owners to install solar photovoltaic panels and solar hot water systems; And be it further resolved that UBCM request that the Government of BC modify the BC Building Code, and include in a future BC Existing Buildings Alterations Code, specifications, including design and placement standards, and load-bearing requirements, for solar photovoltaic panels and solar hot water systems.
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation In addition to energy efficiency and the use of low carbon fuels, CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 CleanBC identifies opportunities to use clean electricity to displace carbon-emitting fuels in buildings, transportation, and in industrial sectors. Ninety-eight percent of British Columbias BC electricity generation comes from large hydro-electric facilities and other clean, renewable resources such as wind, solar, run-of-river and small storage hydroelectric, biomass, and other alternative resources. BC. currently has a surplus of highly-reliable, low-cost, and clean electricity, enough to move us towards our CleanBC goals in the near and medium term. As a result, programs to provide rebates for solar energy systems would have minimal greenhouse gas emissions benefits. As such, neither the Province nor utilities offer incentives, grants, or discounts for the purchase andor installation of other types of alternative electricity generation, such as solar panels. BC does, however, provide a provincial sales tax exemption on certain renewable energy equipment, including but not limited to solar energy equipment. Regarding solar specifications for building codes--solar systems fall within the electrical code rather than the building code. Changes to the 2021 Canadian Electrical Code, adopted as the BC Electrical Code, have reduced regulatory barriers to installing photovoltaic systems. These changes recognize innovation in technology while promoting a high degree of safety. There are no plans currently to change the BC Building Code or the solar hot water regulation; however, identified barriers within the Building Code, can be brought to the attention of the Building and Safety Standards Branch within the Ministry Responsible for Housing.