B.C. 100,000 Solar Roofs Roadmap Update

This update is from the Sustainability Office at BC Hydro, on Monday, January 29, 2007:

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B.C. 100,000 Solar Roofs Roadmap Update

We are pleased to inform you that the B.C. 100,000 Solar Roofs Roadmap project is now underway. The Goal of the project is: “To create a 100,000 Solar Roofs Roadmap that defines the strategy and action plan for 100,000 Solar Roofs in B.C.”

Under the sponsorship of the Ministers of Environment, and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, a Task Team has been appointed to develop this Roadmap.
The Task Team consists of the following members:

• Calvin Kruk, Mayor, City of Dawson Creek, co-chair
• Bruce Sampson, V.P., BC Hydro, co-chair
• David Bodnar, V.P., Terasen Gas
• Peter Busby, Busby Perkins & Will
• Al Clark, Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative, Natural Resources Canada
• Lee Davis, President and CEO, VanCity Capital
• Robert Dean, President, Homeworks
• Dave Egles, Carmanah Technologies, Solar Industry Representative
• Liz Kelly, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
• Thomas Mueller, President, Canada Green Building Council
• Donna Sanford, Ministry of Environment
• Scott Sinclair, B.C. Sustainable Energy Association
• Sharon Shepherd, Mayor, City of Kelowna
• Chief Judith Sayers, Hupacasath First Nation
• Joe Thwaites, Taylor Munro Energy Systems, Solar Industry Representative
• MJ Whitemarsh, CEO, Canadian Homebuilders’ Association of BC

The Task Team will craft recommendations for a strategy for the acceleration of solar in B.C. including targets, timelines, key steps and policies which will be presented to the sponsoring Ministers. It is anticipated that the Solar Roofs Roadmap and the Task Team’s recommendations will be used by municipal, provincial and federal governments, utilities, the solar industry, the non-profit sectors and communities to embark on the 100,000 Solar Roofs program in British Columbia.

The first meeting of the 100,000 Solar Roofs Task Team was held on Nov. 29, 2006. It was well attended and Task Team members brought significant interest and commitment to the development of the Solar Roadmap for B.C.

The focus of the meeting was the development of the Terms of Reference for the Solar Roadmap study. The key deliverables are:
• Draft Solar Roadmap report available for Minister review by October 2007
• Progress presentation to UCBM conference at the end of September
• Engagement of all other stakeholders between November 2007 – March 2008

Beyond October 2007, the Federal Government may have a support program in place aimed at market transformation for solar hot water systems. It is anticipated that 4 – 6 provinces will participate and BC will be well placed to apply for inclusion.