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This month's newsletter highlights how LGCAP funding is helping communities across BC deliver impactful projects to enhance community resilience and save energy. CEA can support communities with upcoming reporting and showcase local success stories.
Plus, we look at a money-saving Retrofit Assist home, upcoming events and learning opportunities, and practical resources like the Step Codes Dashboard.
If you like what you read, please forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague and invite them to subscribe.
CEA NEWS - CEA is available to support communities with LGCAP reporting
- Applications open for the CEA Board of Directors
- Kamloops homeowner reduces energy use by 68% with Retrofit Assist
SPOTLIGHTS - How Nisga'a Nation is bringing electric vehicles to the Nass Valley
- Step Code Dashboard
- Renewable Energy in the Peace: A Power-ful Opportunity
- Peer Networks
- Grid Resilience and Peak Saver Program
| | | | | | | | | | CEA supports communities with LGCAP projects and reporting
As communities invest in infrastructure and services to be more resilient in the face of a changing climate, the Province of BC’s Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) stands out as a critical source of funding.
To date, LGCAP has disbursed over $120 million to local governments and Modern Treaty Nations. These funds are supporting local energy and climate plans, active transportation infrastructure, wildfire protection, energy-efficiency upgrades for recreation facilities, municipally-owned renewable energy systems, and more.
And LGCAP funds have leveraged an additional $154 million from other sources, enabling local governments to be more ambitious with these projects.
LGCAP and CEA: - The annual LGCAP reporting period starts next week. CEA can help communities prepare their online surveys and emissions calculations before the deadline of July 31, 2026. This includes communities with populations of 5,000–9,999, which need to report this year for the first time.
- CEA is gathering examples of LGCAP investments that have been critical to communities all over BC. Let us know about your local “showpiece” LGCAP projects and how LGCAP investments have supported essential infrastructure, leveraged additional funding, or are reducing ongoing operational costs.
Read more on CEA’s support services for LGCAP planning and implementation:
| | | | | | | | Applications open for the CEA Board of Directors
CEA is accepting applications from individuals wishing to be nominated to the Board of Directors.
If you have an interest in providing strategic oversight at this period of CEA’s evolution, we want to hear from you. We are looking for people experienced with non-profit governance, working with First Nations or local governments, finances, law and/or organizational strategy.
Directors serve a two-year term and attend quarterly meetings, annual general meetings, budget meetings, and committee meetings. Directors must be individuals at arms length from the association.
The deadline to apply is April 30, 2026.
| | | | | | | | Kamloops homeowner reduces energy use by 68% with Retrofit Assist
Jay Williamson drastically lowered the energy consumption of his Kamloops home with upgrades that could save him an estimated $1,500 on his annual energy bills.
His is the latest success story from CEA’s partnership with the City of Kamloops that has helped 50 homeowners with energy efficiency upgrades in the last 1½ years.
Retrofit Assist is working with a growing number of BC communities to offer personalized guidance on making homes more energy efficient and comfortable. Retrofit Assist also connects residents with local contractors and offers help applying for rebates.
In Jay’s case, Retrofit Assist helped him quickly line up authorized contractors who installed rooftop solar panels, insulation, and a gas/electric dual fuel heat pump system.
He also received help applying for rebates to the tune of $17,000 and the work was complete within seven months of joining Retrofit Assist.
Find out what upgrades he made and how solar energy is a big part of the plan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | How Nisga'a Nation is bringing electric vehicles to the Nass Valley
The Nisga'a Lisims Government is bringing electric vehicles to the Nass Valley in northwest BC, as part of pursuing a low-carbon future for the nation.
Over the last few years, the government has been purchasing electric vehicles for its fleet and installing EV chargers in the four Nisga'a villages. These efforts are attracting EV-driving tourists, lowering the government's operational costs, and generating interest in EVs from curious residents. Learn more about the Nisga'a Nation's efforts from Kaitlyn Robinson in the video above.
This video was produced as part of the First Nations Low-Carbon Transportation project, a five-year project (2022–27) being led by the BC Assembly of First Nations climate team, with support from the Community Energy Association and funding support from the BC Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions.
The project is aligned with the BCAFN's goal to “ensure reliable and affordable low-carbon and active transportation within and between First Nations communities” and to “support First Nations in reducing reliance on fossil fuels.”
| | | | | | | | | | Step Codes Dashboard
Dozens of BC local governments are accelerating adoption of the Zero Carbon Step Code and Energy Step Code ahead of provincial requirements. Implementing these regulations early means more residents will benefit from homes that are better prepared to face extremely hot summers and cold winters. Plus, they are more insulated (literally) from rising energy costs while producing fewer greenhouse gases.
Today, 39 communities have adopted Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code regulations that go beyond the provincial requirements.
Find out which communities, what steps, and links to the relevant bylaws and plans.
| | | | | | | | | | | | Renewable Energy in the Peace: A Power-ful Opportunity
Northeastern BC is a renewable energy powerhouse, already providing power for the BC grid from large hydro and wind projects. On Monday, April 20, CEA and other partners will be hosting a dialogue in the region to showcase existing renewable energy projects, additional projects that are planned, why they’re necessary, and how communities can get more involved (and realize more benefits) - all to help strengthen the renewable energy community in the Peace.
This event will be at the Saulteau First Nations cultural centre and bring together representatives of communities, industry, education and research, utilities, regulators, and other key organizations. A tour of a wind turbine maintenance facility in Chetwynd is also planned.
Renewable Energy in the Peace: A Power-ful Opportunity
📅 Monday, April 20, 2026 ⏰ 9:45 a.m.–3:30 p.m. MT
📍 RSVP for Free
| | | | Peer Network Meetings
BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council Network Quarterly meeting April 14, 2026
Overview of tools and resources for enabling the energy transition, including BC Hydro's new community solar rate, CEA's Solar & Battery Permitting Guide, a guide to streamlining public EV charging, and more.
Resilience Peer Network Lunch & Learn (Open to all network members) April 15, 2026
Systems Thinking & Change Management in Adaptation Practice: An introduction to the fundamentals of systems-based resilience, the characteristics of resilient systems, and the organizational conditions needed to support continuous adaptation.
| | | | | | Grid Resilience and Peak Saver Program
Building a resilient energy grid is a critical priority as our reliance on electricity grows and weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable.
On May 6, 2026, CEA’s Retrofit Assist invites homeowners to tune into a short webinar exploring strategies and technologies that can safeguard BC’s energy infrastructure against high-demand peaks, ensuring a stable and reliable power supply for communities. This event is geared toward homeowners but will be equally interesting to elected officials and municipal staff involved in keeping our communities powered on through thick and thin.
Grid Resilience and Peak Saver Program
📅 Wednesday, May 6, 2026 ⏰ 10 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. MT
📍 RSVP for Free
| | | | Our Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
The Community Energy Association commits to the principles of Truth and Reconciliation. As an organization, we support the Calls to Action released by the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
and recognize the importance of the self determination of Indigenous Peoples as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. | | Thank you for subscribing to the CEA Newsletter, our monthly update on local climate and energy initiatives connected to the Community Energy Association. No longer interested? You can easily unsubscribe or update your preferences | | | | | |
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