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Media Release/Communiqué
For Immediate Release: November 27, 2007
Media Contacts: Nitya Harris (250)
478-6330 and Peter Ronald (250) 744-2720
BC Solar Roof Plan Earns National
Recognition
VICTORIA - Nitya Harris, project leader of the BC Sustainable
Energy Association's (BCSEA) 100,000 Solar Roofs program,
received the Solar Advocate of the Year Award from the Canadian
Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) at their annual meeting
last week.
The 100,000 Solar Roofs program goal is to develop a Strategy
and Action Plan for installing 100,000 Solar Roofs by 2020
throughout B.C. and is sponsored by Barry Penner, Minister
of Environment and the Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy,
Mines and Petroleum Resources.
"Ms. Harris' leadership of B.C.'s 100,000 Solar Roofs
initiative will assist us in increasing our supply of renewable
energy, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring
a cleaner environment," said the Hon. Barry Penner, B.C.
Minister of Environment.
"Solar energy industries worldwide are growing at double-digit
rates and B.C. is in a good position to take advantage of
this established trend," BCSEA president Guy Dauncey.
"The solar roof program supports B.C.'s goal for electricity
self-sufficiency and renewable electricity generation, helping
innovative manufacturers and installers build this sector."
The 100,000 Solar Roofs program will stimulate the demand
for solar technologies, popularize residential solar energy
systems, train installers, and enhance manufacturing, system
technologies and infrastructure support.
BCSEA is a non-profit society that facilitates the transition
to a sustainable energy future through education, advocacy
and tangible community projects. BCSEA is a leading voice
for energy solutions, such as renewable energy and energy
conservation and efficiency, to address climate change, pollution
and consequences of peak oil. BCSEA has eight regional chapters
and hundreds of members across British Columbia.
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Backgrounder attached.
For more information, contact:
Nitya Harris, 100,000 Solar Roofs Task Team Project Leader
(250) 478-6330
Peter Ronald, BCSEA Provincial Coordinator
(250) 744-2720
BACKGROUNDER
The 100,000 Solar Roofs Program is the continuation of the
SolarBC Solar Hot Water Acceleration Project initiated in
2005 by the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA).
To increase awareness and opportunities for solar energy
in B.C., SolarBC, in partnership with B.C. communities and
the federal and provincial governments has achieved the following:
- delivered homeowner rebates,
- developed qualifications for solar energy systems and
installers,
- increased the awareness of building inspectors for this
technology,
- helped develop solar installer training, and
- provided solar assistance to First Nations communities.
The project successfully met its goal of installing 50 solar
hot water systems in 17 communities across B.C. in one year.
A component of the SolarBC project, the first BC Solar Summit
was held in Vancouver and Victoria in March 2006. The Summit
included workshops for community leaders, policy makers, homeowners
and plumbing and building inspectors, and featured presentations
from international experts on various types of solar energy.
Two B.C. ministers are sponsoring the 100,000 Solar Roofs
Task Team: Barry Penner, Minister of Environment and Richard
Neufeld, Minister of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources.
Staff from the two ministries, guided by BCSEA's Nitya Harris,
developed a terms of reference for the project. The Task Team's
objective is to develop a Strategy and Action Plan for 100,000
Solar Roofs by 2020 in B.C. and present recommendations to
the two sponsoring Ministers. The Task Team is presently working
on developing this Strategy and Action Plan.
The Task Team consists of the following members:
Nitya Harris (project leader)
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
Liz Kelly, eaga Canada
Thomas Mueller, President, Canada Green Building Council
Donna Sanford, B.C. 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
MJ Whitemarsh, CEO, Canadian Homebuilders' Association of
BC
Julian Taylor, E.D., PowerTechnology Alliance
John MacDonald, CEO, Day4Energy
Josef Ayoub, Natural Resources Canada
Teun Bokhoven, Conergy Europe
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