A solar panel is seen installed on a house along Chinook Place.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
A program that will provide homeowners a financial tool to support energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades on their properties is anticipated to open in June.
The Clean Energy Program will allow homeowners to apply for low-interest loans from the city with payments collected through adjusted property taxes.
It provides full financing for the costs for a range of upgrades for homeowners including adding insulation, replacing furnaces and hot water heater, upgrading doors and windows and adding solar panels through its integrated payment system.
There is also an option to repay it in full at any time without penalty, and the financing can be transferred to the next owner if the home sells.
Medicine Hat is among 23 municipalities in the province to authorize a clean energy improvement tax bylaw and is administered by Alberta Municipalities.
City officials say they have secured financing and grant funding and are finalizing terms and conditions of the program before it opens for residential applications.
One term that requires council’s approval is the delegation of the signing authority for the clean energy improvement agreements as the city expects as many as 70 applications for residents annually.
Following a jurisdictional review of other municipalities it was proposed that signing authority be changed from the mayor to the managing director of energy, land and environment or their delegate.
The city clerk will provide a secondary signatory for approval.
“I would then have an option after that point to consider further delegation and manage the next level,” said Adria Coombs, manager environmental strategy and compliance. “And to make sure that those processes to projects have an opportunity to vet, understand their quality and execute on a short-term basis.”
The proposal will be presented to council for consideration.
The city’s goal is to provide applicants a three-day turnaround for projects to be approved and start accepting applications June 18.
