Solar Energy Society of Alberta receives grant funding

Energy Efficiency Alberta has selected 12 community organizations to receive a total of more than $8 million in grant funding for their projects. The multi-year grants are designed to promote energy efficiency throughout the province, in addition to creating more jobs within the rapidly growing renewable energy industry.

Solar panels installed on the facade of the building under the Alberta Municipal Solar Program

Who Are the Grantees?

In late August, Energy Efficiency Alberta announced the grant recipients and amounts, which range from $29,000 for a one-year project to $2.6 million over the course of three years. The grantees include organizations such as Inside Education, the Alberta Council for Environmental Education, the Solar Energy Society of Alberta, the Alberta Rural Development Network and Habitat for Humanity. The grants allow these 12 organizations to do more of what they already specialize in, expanding their reach to more Albertans in their homes, classrooms, businesses and communities.

“These organizations are all well-respected for their education, industry training and community efforts across our province. By investing in their work to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, we help them do more, for more Albertans, with even greater benefits,” said Monica Curtis, CEO of Energy Efficiency Alberta.

“By working with these community organizations, we’re helping more Albertans access the benefits of energy efficiency. Not only are we helping Albertans reduce their carbon footprint, but we’re also helping them keep more money in their pockets,” added Shannon Phillips, minister of environment and parks and minister responsible for the climate change office.

About Energy Efficiency Alberta

Energy Efficiency Alberta is a relatively new governmental agency responsible for helping Albertans use less energy at home and at work, reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the province. It was established in January 2017 as one component of Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan, which key aspects include:

• putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions
• ending pollution from coal-generated electricity by 2030
• developing more renewable energy
• capping oil sands emissions to 100 megatonnes per year
• cutting methane emissions by 45 percent by 2025

The agency’s mission is to provide greater energy efficiency, conservation and small-scale renewable energy solutions by helping families, businesses and other organizations improve their homes and facilities while reducing their carbon footprint. This saves money, contributes to a cleaner environment and helps diversify the economy by creating new jobs. Energy Efficiency Alberta also administers one of the renewable energy subsidies programs called Alberta Residential and Commercial Solar program. 

Solar Panels installed under the Residential and Commercial Solar Program in Alberta

For additional details about the program, including eligibility, details on solar panels rebates, cost of solar panels in Alberta, please visit https://alberta-solar-installers.ca/solar-panel-installers-estimate

Energy Efficiency Alberta said it will announce a second round of grants this fall. A call for proposals will be issued in the coming weeks, with a focus on supporting a broad range of organizations across Alberta in the areas of energy efficiency education, technical training, community projects and capacity building across the province.