Helping municipalities take action to save energy and money, and reduce emissions

Source: David Dodge | · GREEN ENERGY FUTURES · | January 3, 2024

The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre

Municipalities Taking Climate Action – Part I

Alberta municipalities are taking action to save energy and money and reduce emissions more than ever thanks to a little help from their friends at the Municipal Climate Action Centre (MCCAC).

You probably haven’t heard of the MCCAC, but since 2009 they have helped more than 150 small towns, cities and municipalities install solar, install EV charging stations and complete energy efficiency projects and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

“We have had a variety of programs at the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre. Everything from electric vehicle charging infrastructure, solar installations, energy efficiency upgrades, and electric vehicles,” says Trina Innes, executive director of sustainability services at Alberta Municipalities.

And low and behold the program works. Since 2009 the MCCAC has provided just $44 million in funding that has helped 156 municipalities save $166 million over the lifetime of their projects.

Invest $44 million, save $166 million

It all started back in 2008 when Bob Hawkesworth, who was a city councillor in Calgary for 23 years and an MLA in Alberta for two terms was president of what was then called the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA).

“We began doing some long-term sustainability planning, building the capacity for municipalities to look into the future, address the climate issue, and energy was a big part of that,” says Hawkesworth.