On August 14, 2017, the Ontario Government announced the new Municipal GHG Challenge Fund aimed at supporting community-led action on climate change. The competitive, application-based program will fund up to 100 per cent of eligible costs for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction projects proposed by municipalities. The Fund will disperse $100M throughout 2017-18 to projects that aim to reduce GHG emissions in any sector, including in buildings, energy supply and transportation.

This program provides an opportunity for the propane industry to partner with municipalities and community organizations to submit and implement eligible programs. The CPA is currently reaching out to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to discuss broad opportunities for propane to be involved. 

Individual CPA members are encouraged to meet with the municipalities in their service areas to investigate program possibilities at a local level. Two relevant program examples provided in the Municipal GHG Challenge Fund Program Guide are:

• Energy efficiency retrofits to municipal facilities such as arenas, community centres, libraries, and other municipal-owned buildings; and
• Reducing GHG emissions in existing municipal fleets and transportation networks.

For the 2017-18 program, the deadline to submit an application is November 14, 2017, with successful applicants to be informed in writing by February 2018. Any kind of municipal project that reduces GHG emissions could be eligible for funding, including in buildings, energy supply, transportation, water, waste and organics sectors. Projects must commence by March 2019. Projects that are already currently underway are only eligible if they were initiated after June 1, 2016.