BC expands Carbon Neutral Capital Program to include PSE institutions, hospitals

The British Columbia government has announced it will be extending funding under the Carbon Neutral Capital Program to colleges, universities, and public hospitals. The 2014 BC budget will include $14.5 million for the extended program, which until now provided funding only to school districts for infrastructure projects that reduced energy costs and used clean technology. BC Environment Minister Mary Polak says school districts have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3,000 tonnes in just 2 years, and explains they now save $75,000 in carbon charges and about $800,000 in operating costs annually. A BC news release says public-sector organizations will continue to pay $25 per tonne of emissions to encourage efforts that reduce emissions and energy costs. BC News Release | Victoria Times Colonist