KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The federal government, Province of British Columbia and City of Kamloops have announced projects focused on energy efficiency in the region.
The first project is an upgrade to the Canada Games Aquatic Centre including improvements to the building’s mechanical and electrical systems to significantly reduce energy use and increase building durability.
More than $1.14 million through the Provincial CleanBC Communities Fund and $1.37 million through the federal government’s Green Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program will go towards the project, with the City of Kamloops putting more than $913,000 into the energy-efficiency upgrades.
“From the upgrades to the aquatic centre in Kamloops, to the impressive green-energy projects on two B.C. First Nations, we are seeing how smart investments will help communities to save energy and reduce harmful emissions, while building a strong resilient future for residents,” federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna said in a statement.
The First Nations projects are an affordable housing project at the Kanaka Bar Indian Band powered by solar and wind technology, and the use of photovoltaic panels on community and residential buildings at the lower Nicola Band’s arena, firehall building, community centre, waterworks buildings and social housing rental buildings.
The Kanaka Bar project will avoid the use of fossil fuels and will support development of 20 affordable housing units in Lower Kanaka. The province will contribute $66,000 with the federal government putting in $330,000 and Kanaka Bar contributing approximately $44,000 to the project.
The Lower Nicola Indian Band project was supported by $246,000 from the band and approximately $740,000 from the federal government.
“Through our CleanBC climate and economic plan, we’re working together with Indigenous communities and local governments to make life more affordable, support clean energy projects, and energy-efficient homes and buildings that are modern and comfortable,” added B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman.
The CleanBC Communities Fund invests in public infrastructure owned by local governments, Indigenous communities, not-for-profits and projects in partnership with for-profit entities. The federal and B.C. governments have committed more than $46 million in 11 projects across B.C. as part of the first intake of the CleanBC Communities Fund. The second intake is open until Nov. 12, 2020.
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