February 8, 2016 – As part of its Climate Leadership Plan, the Alberta government says it is investing more than $5 million to help municipalities and farmers “harness the power of the sun and support local jobs.”

The investment is largely earmarked for the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre for a solar energy incentive program—the Alberta Municipal Solar Program. This program will provide rebates of up to $0.75 per watt, to a maximum of $300,000 per project, to municipalities for installing solar on municipal buildings, such as offices, fire halls, community centres, etc.

Additionally, a new solar program for agricultural producers—On-Farm Solar Management—will provide $500,000 in provincial and federal funding towards solar energy systems on Alberta farms. The government says this program will help producers generate their own electricity and reduce their carbon emissions.

The Alberta Municipal Solar Program opens for applications on March 1, 2016, and the On-Farm Solar Management program’s application window is open now.