Nova Scotia · Municipality – Switch to Renewable

The roles and responsibilities of a Municipality allow them to be leaders in the transition towards renewable electricity and a low-carbon future. They have a strong call to action, as their residents will experience the impacts of climate change. Municipalities across Canada have already demonstrated a variety of approaches to support renewable electricity and energy efficiency, which have not only proven that they are viable, but that they can lead to benefits such as cost savings, economic development, improved health, and increased livability.

"As a Municipality, you are a leader in the transition towards renewable electricity and a low carbon future"

Develop or Strengthen Your Community Energy Plan

Well-designed community energy plans are instrumental and allow people to take action and promote renewable and sustainable electricity within a municipality. They may serve to facilitate measuring community-wide energy consumption, identify and implement solutions to improve energy efficiency, develop priorities around renewable energy infrastructure, and more. By taking an integrated approach to energy, energy plans can help identify economic development opportunities and secure energy reliability while reducing environmental impacts. For more information checkout the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ research report on the energy sector.

Research Report on the Energy Sector

Improve Your Municipality's Energy Efficiency

Improving how efficiently a municipality uses energy plays a big role in ensuring that power demands can be met with renewable sources. Buildings are one such opportunity, as they are responsible for a large proportion of energy use. Developing targets and strategies, demonstrating energy retrofits in municipal buildings, and incentivizing energy retrofits elsewhere are just a few examples of how buildings can be adapted to save energy. These approaches can deliver additional benefits by helping residents save money and creating healthier homes and workplaces. Consider companies like EfficiencyOne Services or ThermalWise to have a professional energy audit done for municipal buildings. Another approach to improving energy efficiency is through updating technology or management practices for streetlights. By switching to LED lights, dimming controls and electrodeless induction lights, and following best practices to control light activity, you can significantly reduce consumption while saving money.

Adopt Electric Vehicles

The future of transportation is electric and there are actions that municipalities can take to prepare for this transition and broaden the use of renewable electricity within their region. A simple way to ensure easy access to electric charging stations is to update the bylaws to ensure that new buildings accommodate electric vehicles. As well, vehicles within the municipal fleet that are approaching end-of-life can be replaced with electric vehicles whose charging stations can be used by the broader community. Municipalities can also offer rebates on the purchase of electric vehicles. Check out the City of Richmond’s comprehensive guide for improving access to electric charging stations.

City of Richmond's Comprehensive Guide

Financial Help

Visit the Government of Canada's Directory of Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Programs for an up to date list of municipal incentives and rebates.

Directory of Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Programs

Generate Renewable Electricity!

Municipalities can take part in renewable electricity generation by developing their own projects. If your Municipality is interested in investing in renewable power, there are businesses out there to help! Visit the Solar Nova Scotia web page for a list of companies that can help.

Hover over the boxes below to read about your options as a Municipality.

Create Partnerships

Partner with other developers, Municipalities, or co-operatives to share costs and take advantage of the economies of scale.

Lease Owned Assets

Another low-cost option is to lease rooftops or land to companies who will develop renewable projects.

Offer Rebates and Educate Residents

As a Municipality, you are a leader in your communities. Promote residential and commercial renewable electricity generation by offering rebates and educational programs.