ATHABASCA – A clean energy program that allows homeowners to fund green improvements to their homes through their local municipalities stalled out in an Athabasca County meeting after councillors couldn’t agree on a next step.
During their Feb. 20 committee of the whole meeting, councillors left a proposed Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) bylaw hanging in legislative limbo after administration asked for clarification on some key points.
“It needs to be noted that (CEIP) is an unpopular program,” said Coun. Tracy Holland, who said she was in favour of scrapping the bylaw entirely. “As far as I’m concerned municipalities aren’t banks and this is extremely onerous for administration to take on. This is another download from the province and the feds and I’m not in favour of taking on this program.”
CEIP started in 2021, and it effectively allows municipalities to provide loans to property owners for energy-efficient upgrades, including solar photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, or attic insulation. Currently, 16 municipalities are enrolled in the program, including the Town of Athabasca, but only two of the 16 are rural, which raised concerns for councillors.
“Hearing that other rural municipalities and some urbans are starting to look at getting out of it, are we flogging a dead horse here?” asked Coun. Rob Minns, who had advocated for the bylaw to be tabled until next February. “We can look at backing off this a little bit, and maybe look at another timeline.”
Back off it they did. Councillors voted 5-3 — Reeve Brian Hall and Coun. Ashtin Anderson and Camille Wallach were opposed, and Coun. Natasha Kapitaniuk was absent — in favour of a motion to receive the bylaw as information, effectively stranding the bylaw until further notice.
Council had previously chosen to go ahead with the project, voting 6-2 during their Oct. 10 council meeting to have administration draft the bylaw and present it to the committee of the whole before March. Supporters of the bylaw said little had changed in the intervening months.
“This was brought to the table due to residents requests, with many of them feeling that it would improve their ability to sell their older farm properties, which there are many of in the area,” said Anderson.
Under the county’s procedural bylaw, a councillor who voted in favour of the motion would have to move to reconsider the initial vote within a month, which requires a two-thirds majority vote. Otherwise the bylaw will remain on the sidelines.
