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Helping British Columbia Communities Find Energy Solutions
The Smart Planning for Communities (SPC) program benefits from staff with expertise in community sustainability when viewed through an energy lens. Here are some examples of how SPC’s Sustainability Facilitators, led by Peter Ostergaard, the program’s energy planning specialist, have helped British Columbia communities with their energy efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives. Tsawataineuk First Nation (Kingcome Inlet)
KamloopsThe Sustainable Kamloops Committee is responsible for developing a “Sustainable Kamloops Plan”, including recommending that city’s climate action policies, targets, and actions. At a half day forum in February 2010, SPC gave a presentation to the Committee on innovative ideas and examples from other cities across Canada. Results of the initial two phases of the Plan are summarized in the “Foundations for Sustainability” report. The preparation of both a Community and a Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan are identified as top priorities for the next phase. Cowichan Valley Regional DistrictThe Cowichan Valley has a vision to be an energy resilient community with a well developed renewable energy sector where energy use is in balance with local production and conservation. SPC provided strategic support for the Regional District’s draft Regional Energy Plan, and participated in a workshop to identify renewable and district energy opportunities. Prince George, Colwood, City of North Vancouver, Central Kootenay and Fraser Valley Regional DistrictsAt first glance, these local governments don’t seem to have a lot in common. But each one has completed a mapping and modeling exercise to see how future development scenarios will affect energy consumption and emissions. The highlights are publicized through a series of webcasts and reports, available on the Climate Action Toolkit, www.toolkit.bc.ca. Thanks in part to these resources, interest in community scale energy and emissions modeling continues to grow. With funding from the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, Simon Fraser University is now leading the development of a freely available and user friendly model capable of simulating the effects of policies and actions on the energy consumption and emissions of any BC community. Langford
East Kootenay CommunitiesAt a Kootenay Municipal Planners and Leaders seminar, SPC led sessions on sustainability planning for a post peak oil world, with a focus on opportunities that exist across municipal boundaries. Subsequently, the “Carbon Neutral Kootenays Project” was initiated to assist local governments in the Kootenay region in meeting their commitments under the Climate Action Charter, including becoming carbon neutral in their operations. Sunshine Coast Regional DistrictIn collaboration with Gibsons, Sechelt, and School District 46, the Sunshine Coast Regional District has completed a Community Energy and Emissions Plan. SPC delivered a presentation on energy plan examples, policies and tools at the “One Coast, One Climate” event to help launch the Plan’s implementation phase. Cariboo and Chilcotin First NationsAt an “Aboriginal Business Action Forum” in Williams Lake held in June 2009, SPC led sessions on the use of alternative energy sources like biomass for greenhouses and for remote community electricity generation. Lions BaySituated between Vancouver and Squamish, Lions Bay sought advice from the Smart Planning Program on sustainability policies and potential energy actions, including solar hot water and micro hydro electricity generation. SPC met with Council twice and led an evening sustainability forum for residents.
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