Airdrie Deputy Mayor and province make $18 million announcement

Alberta will be investing $18 million to help rural and urban communities become more energy efficient, while reducing costs.

Utilizing the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program funding, the funding will enable communities to hire staff, replace windows, upgrade lights and make practical improvements to arenas, community centres and other buildings.

"This funding will allow the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) to build on its suite of programs, helping Alberta municipalities save energy, lower costs and reduce emissions," the province said. 

During the Thursday announcement by the government, Airdrie Deputy Mayor, Tina Petrow, who is also the Director for Cities of up to 500,000 Alberta Municipalities said that the expanded suite of programs made possible by the spending will empower municipalities to plan and implement capital projects that enhance energy efficiency.

"With access to this type of funding, our municipalities are enabled to choose the tools that work best for them that meet the highest needs for their communities. These projects will help to reduce costs, reduce our carbon footprint and create the environments for a higher quality of living for all of our residents."

The province added that a capacity-building initiative is currently underway, a new Municipal Energy Management Program will launch this spring and a program for energy efficiency upgrades in community buildings is expected to open this summer.

The MCCAC was established in 2009 as a partnership between Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Alberta Municipal Affairs, Alberta Municipalities and Rural Municipalities of Alberta.

In 2022, the MCCAC’s Recreation Conservation Program helped complete upgrades at the Max Bell Centre, saving the facility $7,000 a year while producing 43 fewer tonnes of emissions annually.

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