Fortis Alberta’s Save Energy Grant is now open for its first round of applications, with a deadline of April 30. Communities, municipalities, schools, and Indigenous communities are eligible to apply for grant funding.
“(The grant) provides funding in making upgrades or improvements that result in energy savings. The fund supports projects that reduce energy consumption and help to efficiently control when and how energy is used,” says the Fortis Alberta website.
Projects that have been approved for the grant funding in the past include energy efficient appliance upgrades, home energy evaluation kits, LED retrofits and lighting conversions, window and door upgrades, insulation upgrades, ice re-surfacer energy efficient upgrade, and solar crosswalk signs.
New this year, projects can receive up to $7,500 and funding can now be used to cover the cost of labour and materials.
Those who are eligible to apply for funding include non-profit organizations, community organizations, municipalities, schools, and Indigenous communities and organizations. Applicants must currently be served by Fortis Alberta, and be located within their service area.
Part of the application includes explaining how the project will save energy.
“Eligible projects must be able to demonstrate energy savings (i.e., through direct reduction in energy, or ability to control when and how energy is used). Examples of projects that could receive funding include energy efficiency upgrades (LED retrofits, Energy Star appliance upgrades, window and door replacement), electrical heat pumps, renewable energy systems (e.g., solar panels), electrical load management systems, and energy audits and energy kits,” the website says.
Successful applications are guaranteed to receive at least $1,000, to a maximum of $7,500 per project. More than one application can come from one organization, as long as it is for a separate project, although an organization will only receive grant funding once per year.
“Applicants may submit multiple applications for consideration. However, successful applicants will be awarded funding for only one project, once every calendar year. A project can only receive funding once. If your application is not successful in Round One, applicants may reapply in Round Two,” the website says.
The application deadlines are April 30 and September 30. The criteria for applications include providing specific project details and goals, demonstrating how energy savings will be measured, outline anticipated benefits for the community, and provide a project budget.
“Applications will be reviewed by the Fortis Alberta Save Energy Grant Selection Committee and will be considered based upon the criteria.
“Applicants will be informed of their application’s success approximately four weeks after the application deadline,” the website says.
For specifics in project details, the website says an “application (should) clearly explain the initial need for the project or why it has been proposed and provide an overview of the project plan. Any targets or business objectives are identified, and the timeframe expected to meet those goals is also identified.”
Those who receive grant funding will also need to track how the upgrades have saved energy, and provide those numbers in a report to Fortis. Fortis also offers an online electricity calculator, to help determine energy usage and costs.
“The applicant will track and report energy savings. The application clearly demonstrates how energy savings will be measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Any other metrics that will be collected should be listed, e.g., cost savings ($), emissions reductions (metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent), etc,” says the website.
Another key piece of the application will include a budget and a plan for how the organization will secure funds elsewhere in addition to the Fortis grant.
“A project budget must be clearly articulated and include a cost breakdown of materials and labour.
“The application should demonstrate how remaining additional funds will be secured. In addition to the Save Energy grant, project funding may include a combination of other grants and/or awards.”
Kari Janzen
Staff Reporter