Whereas meeting the need for additional power sources in BC with industrial scale wind and solar installations is expensive, potentially damaging to environmentally sensitive land, and insufficient; And whereas private solar installations would reduce these negative economic and environmental impacts; And whereas solar installation is costly and often beyond the financial ability of many property owners: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province create a Provincial Solar Power Rebate Program for homeowners.
Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions The Province is committed to ensuring that all British Columbians have access to affordable, clean, and reliable electricity. In 2024 BC Hydro launched its first Call for Power in over fifteen years, resulting in electricity purchase agreements with nine wind and one solar energy producers. Utility-scale wind and solar generation are currently the most cost-effective clean and renewable energy sources in the province. This Call resulted in an average cost of energy of 74 per megawatt hour, or 7.4 cents per kilowatt hour kWh and an 8 percent increase in BC Hydros electricity supply. In addition, the Site C Dam will also be operating at full capacity this year adding another 8 percent increase to electricity supply. There will be future Calls with regularity, including calls for firmcapacity power, to ensure a clean, affordable, and reliable electricity supply. The Province is taking action to bring new clean and renewable resources online faster and remains committed to maintaining robust environmental standards during the development of the nine wind farms announced through BC Hydros Call for Power. While these projects will not undergo environmental assessment processes, each project will still be subject to rigorous permitting requirements through a single-window permitting process for renewable energy projects led by the BC Energy Regulator. Currently, residential solar power, as measured through net metering, is a higher-cost resource; FortisBC currently providing credits worth 14.96 cents per kWh and BC Hydro credits worth up to 14.08 cents per kWh. BC Hydro also offers rebates up to 5,000 on eligible grid-connected solar panels and up to an additional 5,000 for battery storage systems for homeowners who are currently BC Hydro customers, funded through BC Hydro rates and not taxpayer funds.