Whereas in 2021, 37 local governments from across BC, as well as UBCM, passed resolutions supporting Help Cities Lead, a campaign advocating for the implementation of a Property Assessed Clean Energy PACE program for residential and commercial buildings; And whereas the Province has not met its commitment to move forward with next steps on a PACE program in the RoadMap to 2030 climate strategy, which is a form of financing for energy retrofits designed to help building owners save on energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and has yet to advance the program: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the provincial government to immediately introduce legislation to support a province-wide PACE program for residential and commercial buildings.
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation The Province remains committed to advancing key CleanBC policies and programs for energy efficiency in buildings. To meet our ambitious emission reduction targets, Government has already implemented policies phasing out utility incentives for conventional gas heating equipment and making it easier for utilities to offer income-qualified retrofit programs. We continue to work on introducing the highest efficiency space and water heating equipment standards, implementing greenhouse gas requirements in the BC Building Code, enhancing our existing program portfolio and developing a virtual home energy rating system that will provide energy performance and retrofit guidance to homeowners, home buyers and renters. CleanBC has a growing suite of supportive measures including CleanBC Better Homes and Better Buildings, CleanBC Social Housing Incentive, and the CleanBC Custom Program, and a Low-Interest Financing Program, along with often-stackable utility and federal energy retrofit programs, such as the Canada Greener Homes Loan that can incentivize comprehensive building energy retrofits in the residential and commercial sectors. As the Province transitions to more stringent building codes and standards we recognize the potential for PACE to promote energy-efficient building retrofits in some market segments and continue to explore the next steps on a timeframe that aligns with these regulations.