Powering Our Communities - Renewable Energy Guide for Local Governments

Renewable, clean electricity will play a key role in the future of power supplies. Globally, 25% of investment in the power sector is fl owing into renewable energy technologies, and this proportion is growing. Local governments in British Columbia have an important role to play in the transition to a clean, renewable electricity system, and in so doing they can bring signifi cant benefi ts to their communities.

Clean Electricity in British Columbia British Columbia's electricity supply is primarily renewable energy from the province's heritage hydroelectric resources. As electricity demand grows, there is a need to supplement that existing resource with additional sources of renewable electricity supply. Recent provincial government policy has created the conditions for local governments to take a role in developing and supporting renewable energy development, by creating opportunitiesfor local governments, individuals and the private sector to develop renewable electricity resources either for their own use or to sell electricity to the power grid.

Renewable Electricity Technologies British Columbia is fortunate to have prodigious clean energy resources. Opportunities likely to be of interest to local governments in British Columbia include:• Small or micro hydroelectric power, including opportunities within municipal water systems• Energy from waste, from anaerobic digestion of organic waste, or gasifi cation• Landfi ll gas utilization• Woodwaste and other biomass sources• Solar photovoltaic power• Small wind power• Fuel cell generation.

Opportunities for Local GovernmentsLocal governments can benefi t by developing renewable electricity resources associated directly with the local government operations. Opportunities include:• Solar photovoltaic panels for street lighting, parking ticket machines and civic buildings• Landfi ll gas utilization projects, such as those generating electricity in Vancouver, the CapitalRegional District and Kelowna• Small or micro hydro power plants, either in local rivers, or within the municipal water supply system, as implemented in the District of West Vancouver. These and other opportunities can provide power for use within local government operations (e.g. through net metering with BC Hydro or Fortis BC), or even to sell (i.e. all the output directly) to BC Hydro or FortisBC. In addition to exploring opportunities for developing their own renewable electricity resources, local governments can provide support to local businesses and residents interested in developing renewable energy. Support can be provided by:• Ensuring local bylaws do not create unnecessary barriers to renewable energy• Promoting renewable energy within new development, using tools such as tax and development cost charge exemptions, density bonuses and development permit checklists• Starting a dialogue with independent power producers, BC Hydro's industrial customers and the community, to explore opportunities for benefi cial and sustainable power projects.