School District 27 (SD27) is celebrating the news the B.C. Liberal government will refund carbon offset payments to school boards across the province, so they can apply that money to their own energy-efficiency projects.
Board chair Will Van Osch says SD27 has been “working hard” to lower its carbon emissions and has been quite successful.
“I’m hoping it will stimulate some more initiatives in SD27 for alternate energy and for improving the efficiency in buildings, reducing idling, and using our bus systems to the best possible advantage.”
Victoria’s new $5-million capital program will provide funding that is equal to or greater than the total paid by school boards for purchases of carbon offsets from Pacific Carbon Trust (CPT).
The money will encourage investments in projects that reduce both greenhouse gases and energy costs, he says, adding it will allow more flexibility in current energy projects the district has underway.
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett notes that in reality, the public sectors should not pay carbon tax in the first place, but by refunding what they pay out, it encourages carbon-emission reductions.
“It is put there so all sectors become responsible and reduce carbon emissions over the long term, which will benefit the environment.
“As long as government is ensuring institutions like schools … receive the benefits back, and that is neutral to what is paid out, then it is benefiting everybody. But if not, then it shouldn’t be done.”
However, Cariboo North MLA Bob Simpson notes numerous other public agencies that pay carbon offsets are all “still in the same boat” as before.
“They are making a minor adjustment in terms of the money for [Grades] K-12 school boards, but the health authorities are still double taxed.”
They pay carbon tax on their fuel, he explains, and then pay carbon offsets on the emissions from that fuel.
“They’re taking about $11 million-plus out of our health-care system for this ‘bogus’ claim of carbon neutrality … money that was supposed to be in surgeries and seniors care and so on.”
Simpson adds cash-poor school districts in the Cariboo are unlikely to be able to do expensive energy-reduction projects and cash in on much of the new funding, but meanwhile will continue to pay for carbon offsets.
“That $5 million is going to be money to contribute to capital projects, not to pay [entirely] for capital projects.”
Public sector carbon offsets paid to the Crown corporation PCT are then dispersed to fund private sector corporate projects, which has drawn controversy since the program was introduced.
SD27 paid about $85,000 in carbon offsets to PCT for 2010, and while Van Osch notes that is a significant reduction, his school board has been asking for some time to be allowed to apply those dollars towards their own green projects.
Another change reimburses costs to all public sectors for related software to track energy consumption.
