Letter Solar Energy in Rural and Remote Communities

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
200-1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone  (250) 405-5151    Fax  (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660-2421.  Elsewhere 
in BC 1.800.663.7867 
Email  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
November 19, 2019        File No.  0400-30; 5590-30  
 
Via e-mail: EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca 
 
The Honourable Michelle Mungall  
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 
PO Box 9060, STN PROV GOVT 
Victoria BC V8W 9E2 
 
Dear Minister Mungall: 
 
Re:  Request for Greater Support for Solar Energy in Rural and Remote Communities 
 
On behalf of the Islands Trust Council, we are requesting that the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum 
Resources offer a financial incentive program for hybrid solar photovoltaic systems with batteries for community 
buildings in rural and remote communities. 
 
Hybrid solar photovoltaic systems with batteries are a low-carbon renewable energy source and can be used 
with grid-tied and off-grid systems. We are seeking a funding program for these systems on community buildings 
such as fire halls, community halls, and schools because installation of these systems can ensure there is a 
community space with light, internet, and working groundwater wells during emergency situations such as wind 
and rainstorm events that cause power outages. In addition, communities would be able to reduce costs during 
normal operating conditions since they would be using less electricity from a grid or diesel generated system.  
 
We understand that hybrid solar photovoltaic systems with batteries are designed to automatically disconnect 
from the grid when the power goes out to ensure the safety of hydro workers, thus making them a safe and 
reliable power source uniquely suited to address the issues rural and remote communities face during power 
outages.  
 
In remote locations where there is no grid or when power is temporarily unavailable due to an emergency, a 
hybrid solar photovoltaic system with batteries can provide power day or night. The powerful wind storm of 
December 2018, resulted in many coastal communities being without power for extended periods. Galiano 
Island was without power for 10 days, and community members on Galiano Island benefited from the Galiano 
Conservancy’s off-grid solar system which was able to power a community space with lights and internet, and 
power the groundwater well pump for residents who had run out of fresh water. 
 
 
 
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The Honourable Michelle Mungall  
November 19, 2019 
Page 2 
 
 
The province’s CleanBC plan indicates that there will be focused effort on supporting solar photovoltaics in 
remote and off-grid communities through the new Remote Community Energy Strategy. It is our interpretation 
that this strategy will focus on communities typically powered with diesel generators. While we 

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