B.C. SUPPORTS CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIONS

VICTORIA - The B.C. government is providing the Community Energy Association (CEA) with $47,000 in support to ensure community
involvement in combating climate change, Environment Minister Barry Penner announced today.

"British Columbia continues to work hard to deal with climate change," said Penner. "The B.C. government is funding initiatives such as these with the Community Energy Association because we know actions from regional districts and local governments will be needed to help us meet our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020."

CEA projects will:
* Raise awareness of community energy planning with local governments across B.C., actively supporting those communities dedicated to developing and implementing community energy plans, greenhouse gas
action plans, and integrated energy, greenhouse gas and air quality plans.
* Recognize progressive and innovative local governments with an Energy Aware Award presentation at the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention banquet.
* Develop an integrated streamlined planning guidebook that follows up the work that CEA was engaged on with pilot local governments during the last year.

"Almost half the greenhouse gas emissions of the province are affected by decisions of local government in land use, transportation, buildings and infrastructure," said Dan Rogers, chair of the Community Energy
Association. "We are appreciative of the Ministry of Environment's long-standing partnership in supporting local government action on energy and climate change."

CEA is a non-profit society, promoting energy conservation, energy efficiency and green energy supplies through community energy planning and project implementation.