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By Bob Weber

The Alberta government is adding another plank to its climate-change platform by providing more than $5.5 million to build on programs to help farms and municipalities install solar panels.

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“This is just the beginning,” Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said Friday.

“By investing now in proven programs we will be better prepared to ramp up our efforts as the price on carbon pollution is phased in.”

Photo by Gavin Young / Calgary Herald archives

Up to $5 million is being offered to defray the cost of setting up solar power in buildings such as offices, fire halls and community centres.

A similar program worth $500,000 will be offered to farmers.

The money extends a program already being offered through the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. That program has already helped six Edmonton community leagues install solar panels, reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 55 tonnes every year.

The agricultural solar program builds on a pilot that saw 61 projects reduce greenhouse gases by more than 360 tonnes and add almost 500 kW of capacity to Alberta’s electricity grid.