Utilities and Financing - Renewable Energy Guide for Local Governments in BC

Utilities and Financing is a module of the Community Energy Association's Renewable Energy Guide for Local Governments in British Columbia. Other modules of this guide include:

• Governance (how local governments can encourage and mandate use of renewable energy in the community)
• Heating Our Communities, and
• Powering Our Communities.

Utilities and Financing has been written for local government elected offi cials and staff interested in developing renewable energy projects and utilities in their communities. Local governments around the world have been leaders in tackling climate change by promoting renewable energy at the community level, with innovative policies and programs that have made national-level impacts on energy policy. Local governments are ideally placed to champion renewable energy. Opportunities outlined in this guide include:

• Local government ownership and operation of heating utilities, providing district or decentralized heating to buildings in the community
• Use of small-scale renewable energy technologies to heat and power municipal buildings
• Local government ownership and operation of power projects.