To access $2.1 million in sustainability funds from the Federal gas tax funding agreement, all the City of Powell River needs to do is put together some viable, measurable sustainability initiatives.
This news was conveyed by Thomas Knight, planning manager for the city’s community energy and emissions program, at the sustainability steering committee meeting February 27.
The gas tax funding program first started in 2005 and funds have accumulated since that time in the Community Works Fund. So far, $3.7 million has been received, and part of the $1.6 million already used went into upgrades to Powell River Recreation Complex.
“My message to council is let’s make good use of this opportunity,” Knight said. “If there is a plan in place that makes cleaner water, cleaner air, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions it could be eligible to benefit from this money.”
He pointed out that a provincial summary on where and how these funds are being utilized in other communities identifies that Prince George has used 80 per cent of what it has received since the program started.
“It’s not just a situation of throwing this money into the community and hoping that someone picks it up,” he said. “I think asking questions around how we are going to make the most of this opens up a dialogue that is an important part of the process.”
Knight suggested the committee look at reducing vehicular transportation as this is where 75 per cent of emissions recorded in the city are coming from. To date, he said, only $14,000 of the gas tax money has been put toward public transportation. “We need to find a way that we can use this money to help alleviate the problem.”
When the program started in 2005, the guidelines around where the money could be used were fairly limited. Now, Knight stated, that is no longer the case.
“If people came forward with a great idea—say to reuse biomass waste and find a way to compress it into fuel pellets and the end result was a reduction in carbon emissions and the plan met program requirements—this could be the kind of opportunity we are looking for,” he said.
Powell River Regional District chair Colin Palmer, who also sits on the committee, cautioned that the question of staff time needs to be considered and accounted for, rather than just handing over the money and saying “here, deal with it.” “We’ve encountered a similar situation in the past with the regional district and it was no small task,” he said.
Palmer pointed out that the funds must be utilized by 2019. “This money has got a very clear time line and it needs to be used or someone else will get it.”
Knight agreed. “The program is ending in March of 2014, but the funds can be used up until 2019. It is important to use every opportunity to move forward and start getting some results.”
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