The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen serves approximately 80,000 people in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. The constituent communities have a strong commitment to climate action and reducing the Regional District’s carbon footprint in support of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth.

The RDOS has received funding from the Natural Resources Canada - Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program to perform a series of demand-side reviews and renewable and electrification feasibility studies on 38 facilities within the Okanagan-Similkameen region. The RDOS represents several smaller communities; and this project will assess facilities within 12 of these communities. Facilities include ice arenas, recreation centres, fire service buildings, and waste management facilities. Several sections of street lighting will also be reviewed for EV charging conversion.

The project will provide the RDOS with the knowledge and resources required to implement solar and other renewable projects within constituent communities, as well as tools and recommendations for reducing total energy use and converting key building systems to electricity. The RDOS represents 12 smaller communities that would not otherwise have the resources to employ the level of energy management and planning services this project provides. The area experiences a high frequency of forest fires, which disrupt the electrical grid. Renewable energy installations will improve the communities’ capacity and resilience to deal with power outages and other effects of climate change, including the ability to provide emergency cooling for the community in extreme heat events.

The project is anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Canadian municipal sector, support the development of new renewable installation projects, and offer hands-on training and experience to the next generation of climate leaders. Through training, knowledge sharing, and advertisement, further development towards electrification and renewables can be made at multiple scales across the diverse Canadian landscape. It is hoped that the results of these studies may provide guidance to overcome gaps in renewable energy installation in regions across Canada and support the future development of renewables and electrification projects in a wide range of municipalities. 

Closing Date: May 24, 2024 @ 2:00 PM PST

Link to view Request for Proposal: Renewable and Electrification Feasibility Studies