Fruit Tree Removal Incentive Program
This program is offered to remove wildlife attractants and reduce conflict between bears and people in Canmore.
- Eligibility: Individuals who own a home or property located within the Town of Canmore.
- Funding: 100% of the pre-tax cost of removal of the fruit tree(s) or bush(es) by an arborist or tree removal service up to $500/property. Program is first-come first-served while funds are available.
Applications are now open!
Thank you for your interest in removing fruit trees from your property to advance wildlife coexistence in our community. To apply for the incentive program:
- Send an email to sustainability@canmore.ca with the subject line: fruit tree incentive program and indicate you are interested in the program.
- Once you receive a reply, contract an arborist or tree removal service to remove the fruit tree(s) and/or bush(es) from your property.
- Once the fruit tree(s) or bush(es) have been removed, email a copy of your paid invoice to sustainability@canmore.ca.
- We will then reimburse you for the cost of removal up to $500/property.
Timeframe: Annually, while funds remain available
Climate Action Incentives
Our mountain environment is important to our community. This year, we are proud to offer five incentive programs to help residents and businesses reduce energy and fuel costs while also reducing our community’s impact on our environment.
Our Climate Action Incentives accelerate our climate action targets. They are funded by the Sustainability Reserve, which comes from a portion of franchise fees paid to the Town by ATCO and Fortis.
These programs are in addition to the existing Clean Energy Improvement Program, an innovative financing tool for Canmore residents to make your homes more energy efficient and invest in renewable technologies without an upfront cost.
Two of our programs this year, the E-Bike Discount and the Home Upgrades Program, are specifically targeted at members of our Affordable Services Program to reduce barriers to Canmore residents with the highest financial need. See if you qualify for the program!
Are you interested in reducing your greenhouse gas emissions while keeping money in your pocket? Apply now below!
Clean Energy Improvement Program
Over half of Canmore’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are from existing buildings. Homeowners can now apply for the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) – an innovative financing tool for property owners to reduce GHG emissions by investing in energy efficient and renewable energy upgrades without an upfront cost.
CEIP provides a low interest financing option for loans related to energy efficiency upgrades (solar, insulation, windows, etc.). You then make repayments through your annual property tax bills. CEIP repayment is tied to the property, not the property owner. If the home is sold, the new owner assumes responsibility for repayment, while also enjoying the energy savings and other benefits of the upgrade(s).
The CEIP can be combined with the Residential Solar Incentive if the timelines align. If you are selected to receive a Solar Incentive the funding will be applied to the CEIP financing instead of being paid directly to you.
- Residents can finance 100% of the cost for energy upgrades, including windows and doors, insulation, high efficiency furnaces and water heaters, air source heat pumps, and solar photovoltaic installations.
- Homeowners need to be full time residents and have five years of property tax history to be eligible.
- The Clean Energy Improvement Program is first come, first served.
- Repayment is through property tax with terms based on the effective useful life of the completed upgrades, to a maximum of 20 years.
- CEIP is stackable with rebates and incentives.
- Grant and loan funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities offsets the program administration and the upfront costs for the home energy upgrades from 2022-2026.
- CEIP contributes to local economic growth by providing opportunities for contractors. To work on CEIP projects, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, energy auditors, window, insulation, and solar installers must become a CEIP Qualified Contractorwith Alberta Municipalities.
The application process for CEIP is administered by Alberta Municipalities. Submit your application on their website.
Electric Vehicle Readiness Research Pilot
We are offering an incentive to existing and under-construction multi-family buildings to make resident parking stalls Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready. In 2024, in exchange for the incentive, recipients must work closely with the Town to provide information on approach, material selection, challenges, and all costs. This is a research-based pilot designed to help inform a long-term EV charger incentive program.
An EV Ready parking stall has a conduit installed connecting the appropriate electrical supply to the parking space, so that a Level 2 EV Charger (240 volt) can be easily installed at a later date.
Apply by 4 p.m. MST on April 8, 2024.
- The incentive is 75% of the total cost to a maximum of $1,500 per stall for new construction, and $3,000 per stall for existing buildings. The maximum per building and/or recipient is $20,000.
- We will select at least one existing multi-family building, and one building under construction.
- The incentive is not retroactive for existing EV chargers or EV readiness.
- This program is focused on the electrical infrastructure to supply power to a future charger. Actual installation of a Level 2 charging unit is not required and will not be eligible for incentive funding.
- Successful applicants will be selected by lottery, with priority to those that have already worked with an electrician to confirm feasibility and obtain a quote. These applicants will be contacted directly with next steps.
Email sustainability@canmore.ca to request a copy of the application form.
Solar Incentive Program - Now Closed
The 2024 program is now closed. Successful candidates will be contacted directly.
Investing in solar energy can be a great way to reduce emissions while reducing energy costs; however, the upfront cost can be a financial barrier. That is why we are proud to offer an annual incentive to help offset the cost of a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system for Canmore residents and businesses.
- The residential incentive is $1,250, regardless of the size of the solar PV system.
- We are offering 20 incentives of $1,250 towards the installation of a solar photo voltaic rooftop array for Canmore homeowners with a minimum of 3 kW.
- The incentive is for residential homes (single family, duplexes, tri- and four-plexes, individual townhouses, etc.).
- The incentive is not retroactive for existing systems.
- Successful applicants will be selected by lottery and contacted directly with next steps.
- You can combine this program with the Clean Energy Improvement Program (see below).
- The commercial incentive is based on the system size; $750/kW to a maximum of $20,000.
- The incentive applies to both new construction and existing buildings.
- For a multi-family building, the system needs to service the building common areas and/or all units. Individual condo owners installing a system that will provide power only for their unit can apply to the Residential Program.
- The incentive is not retroactive for existing systems.
- Successful applicants will be selected by lottery, with funding secured based on proposed size, and will be contacted directly with next steps.
Home Upgrades Program - Now Closed
The 2024 program is now closed. Successful candidates will be contacted directly.
The program is designed to help qualified homeowners lower their energy bills by installing free home upgrades that reduce energy consumption and create a more comfortable and affordable home. It is delivered by Kambo Energy Group and Alberta Ecotrust, in partnership with the Town of Canmore.
For qualified applicants (must be a Canmore resident on the Town of Canmore’s Affordable Services Program), the Home Upgrades Program delivery team identifies and installs energy-efficient upgrades based on each household’s unique needs and may include the installation of a high-efficiency furnace, new insulation, and air sealing measures.
Thanks to a coalition of funders committed to supporting lower-income Albertans, there are no costs or hidden fees passed on to homeowners who receive upgrades.
The 2024 program is now closed. Successful candidates will be contacted directly.
- This program provides a retrofit for 4-7 homes (~$15,000 per home) via KAMBO Energy Group.
- The Home Upgrades Program installs energy-efficient upgrades based on the unique needs of eligible homes and may include the installation of a high-efficiency furnace, new insulation, or air sealing. Upgrades are chosen based on their ability to help lower-income households save energy and money.
E-Bike Discount - Now Closed
The 2024 program is now closed. Successful candidates will be contacted directly.
Information about the 2024 program:
We are offering a e-bike discount to make sustainable transportation options more accessible. The program is open exclusively to Canmore residents in the Affordable Services Program to reduce barriers to e-bike ownership for Canmore residents with the highest financial need. This program is being offered in 2024 only.
- The discount will be offered to residents in the Affordable Services Program at two tiers.
- A 67% discount will be available for Tier 1 ASP members to a maximum of $2,400 and 35% for Tier 2 members to a maximum discount of $1,300.
- This discount approach aligns with the existing discount rates for memberships for Elevation Place.
- See if you qualify for the Affordable Services Program.
- Based on demand, there may be a lottery to determine the recipients. Successful applicants will be notified in March 2024. They will then have until May 2024 to purchase an e-bike as part of the program.