On the Path to Carbon Neutrality

September 12, 2011 -

Dawson Creek announces new fund to help cut greenhouse gas pollution -

New $100 per tonne charge on greenhouse gas pollution from municipal operations will create both resources and motivation to reduce emissions, save energy and fight climate change

DAWSON CREEK — Dawson Creek is launching a new fund for projects that save energy and fight climate change, and the city is raising the money for the program by putting a price on every tonne of greenhouse gas pollution from municipal operations.

The Dawson Creek Carbon Fund, announced today, will receive $100 from the city for each tonne of carbon emissions from the city's buildings, vehicles and other operations. That money will be used to support projects to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, like improving the energy efficiency of Dawson Creek's vehicle fleet or installing renewable energy on municipal facilities.

The Carbon Fund will ensure that Dawson Creek continues to invest in making its buildings and vehicles more energy-efficient, while continuing to explore cleaner energy sources, like solar hot water or biomass heating. This will help to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, as well as reduce the operating expenses of the municipal buildings and vehicle fleet. By using the carbon fund to invest in local projects, Dawson is keeping municipal dollars in the community and is helping to create local green jobs.

"The Carbon Fund will provide much-needed seed money for projects that will reduce our greenhouse gas pollution and our operating costs, but may not have received funding through normal budgeting processes," said Mike Bernier, mayor of Dawson Creek. "Investing in green projects in our community is a great way to create and support new jobs in Dawson Creek."

In 2010, Dawson Creek's municipal greenhouse gas emissions totaled approximately 3,600 tonnes, which means that the initial investment in the Carbon Fund will likely total about $360,000. This self-imposed charge will also be an effective way to further motivate Dawson Creek to reduce emissions. As projects that reduce greenhouse gas pollution are implemented and the total emissions from municipal operations decreases, the total investment in the carbon fund will also decrease.

"The $100 per tonne investment in the Carbon Fund is a great way to set aside resources for projects that reduce Dawson Creek's greenhouse gas pollution," said Barry Reynard, Director of
Community Services. "It also is a great way to recognize the cost of increasing our greenhouse gas pollution. If we build an inefficient building that really increases our municipal greenhouse gases, we'll have to make a bigger investment in the Carbon Fund. Basically, the fund creates a tangible way to recognize the value of saving energy and reducing our city's emissions, and to factors those choices into the city's budget."

Dawson Creek created the Carbon Fund as an innovative way to reduce its own greenhouse gas pollution and to work towards meeting its commitment of carbon neutrality in its own operations by 2012, as committed to under the B.C. Climate Action Charter. Dawson Creek worked closely with the Pembina Institute to design the Carbon Fund.

For more information, please contact:
Barry Reynard, Director of Community Services, City of Dawson Creek, 250 784 3605