Province proposes energy efficiency amendments
Posted Apr 2, 2012 03:23:01 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The provincial government has announced proposed changes that will allow all municipalities to finance energy-efficient equipment, including solar panels, on private property through property taxes.
Service Nova Scotia minister John MacDonell explains it essentially makes HRM’s “Solar City” program a possibility for everyone in Nova Scotia.
“Municipalities will do the up-front research, although they should be able to draw upon the knowledge and experience of HRM, order the energy-efficient equipment and have it installed for home owners who opt into the program,” says MacDonell.
He says homeowners will decide how long they want to take to pay, and municipalities will add the amount to their tax bills over a number of years.
Julian Boyle, manager of energy policy for HRM says the “Solar City” program is already very popular.
“The pilot program right now is looking to install 500 to 1,000 systems in a year-and-a-half,” he explains.
That program starts this spring.
