(CHAT News file photo)

By Brian Konrad

City is the 23rd Alberta municipality to join

Property owners will soon be able to borrow from the city to make energy efficient renovations

Apr 18, 2023 | 6:52 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Medicine Hat city council has completed the first step in creating a local Clean Energy Improvement Program.

A bylaw will establish a program in Medicine Hat which is the 23rd municipality in Alberta to pass a clean energy improvement tax bylaw.

It allows homeowners to get a loan from the city to make energy-efficient renovations to their properties with repayment tied to property tax payments.

The loan is attached to the property, not the property owner, allowing for a long repayment term. Upgrades can include lighting, solar PV, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, windows, insulation and more.

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“The Clean Energy Improvement Program provides affordable, flexible, long-term financing that removes the barrier of up-front costs of energy efficient home upgrades,” said Jonathan Linowski, business analyst for the City of Medicine Hat’s strategy and analysis department.

“The program is unique in that the loan is attached to the property, not the property owner, and can offer a long repayment term up to the effective useful life of the eligible upgrades, which in some cases can be up to 25 years.”

City officials will begin work on securing financing and grant funding, as well as developing the terms and conditions of the program before it opens to residents.