B.C. Business Incentives

BIG ON GREEN INCENTIVES

B.C. has the longest list of incentives for business to "go green" of all provinces, according to research by the consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Select B.C. business incentives

Income tax incentives
Sales tax incentives
BC Hydro and other incentives

Income tax incentives

Incentive	Contact	Description
Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Investment Tax Credits (ITCs)	Canada Revenue Agency	10% ITC on qualifying SR&ED expenditures incurred in British Columbia.
Venture Capital Programs	British Columbia Ministry of Small Business Technology and Economic Development	Eligible Business Corporation (EBC): 30% tax credit for corporations investing in an EBC. Venture Capital Corporation (VCC): 30% tax credit for corporations investing in a VCC that invests in an eligible small business (ESB) or an EBC.

Incentive

Contact

Description

Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Investment Tax Credits (ITCs)

Canada Revenue Agency

10% ITC on qualifying SR&ED expenditures incurred in British Columbia.

Venture Capital Programs

British Columbia Ministry of Small Business Technology and Economic Development

Eligible Business Corporation (EBC): 30% tax credit for corporations investing in an EBC.

Venture Capital Corporation (VCC): 30% tax credit for corporations investing in a VCC that invests in an eligible small business (ESB) or an EBC.

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Sales tax incentives

Incentive	Contact	Description
Material and equipment used to conserve energy	British Columbia Ministry of Finance	Provincial sales tax exemption for material and equipment used to conserve energy or produce electricity from renewable sources. Expiry dates vary.
Alternative fuel vehicles	British Columbia Ministry of Finance	PST exemption for acquisition or lease of new alternative fuel vehicles and conversion kits for existing vehicles.
Motor fuel tax concessions	British Columbia Ministry of Finance	Exemption or reduced fuel tax rates for cleaner, more environmentally friendly motor fuels.

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BC Hydro and other incentives

Incentive	Contact	Description
LiveSmart BC home energy efficiency incentives	LiveSmart BC	More than more than $7,000 in rebates now available to B.C. homeowners.
LiveSmart BC small business energy efficiency incentives	LiveSmart BC	Aa free walk-through assessment to identify opportunities. Increased incentives from BC Hydro and FortisBC.
Power Smart Programs for Commercial Businesses	BC Hydro	New Construction Program: Funding and rebates to develop a high-performance design and install energy efficient lighting and appliances in new commercial multi-unit residential buildings. Product Incentive Program: Incentives for businesses that retrofit existing facilities with energy-efficient products. Power Smart Partner Program: Eligible organizations have access to a variety of tools and resources to improve productivity, reduce energy and reduce maintenance costs.
Power Smart Programs for Industrial Businesses¹	BC Hydro	Energy Studies & Audits: Our free or funded energy assessments give you access to energy experts who can delve into how you use energy and how you can trim costs. Project Incentives: Get funding for equipment upgrades and energy efficiency projects. Sustainable Energy Management: Get funding and support to develop an energy management program at your organization. Not sure where to start? Use the Business Program Eligibility Tool for information on applicable programs that best meet your needs.
Acquiring Power Programs	BC Hydro	Bioenergy Call for Power: Purchase of electricity generated by independent producers using wood fibre and biomass as fuel. Net Metering: Customers earn credits by transferring excess electricity generated primarily for their own use from clean energy (e.g., hydro, win, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, tidal, wave and biomass) to the electrical grid. Standing Offer Program: Purchase of electricity generated from small and clean energy projects. Clean Power Call: BC Hydro continues to advance the Clean Power Call, for the purchase of acquiring "clean" energy as defined by the province in its guidelines for clean and renewable resources, from projects using proven technologies.
Innovative Clean Energy Fund	British Columbia Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development	Funding for projects that commercialize British Columbia's clean, efficient energy technologies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, applications are not being accepted, but additional funding is expected this year.
Natural Gas	FortisBC (Terasen Gas)	For businesses located in the Lower Mainland, Squamish or the Interior: Energy Assessment: Free energy assessment. Efficient Boiler Program: Rebates for installing condensing or near condensing boilers in new construction or retrofit projects. Applications must be made by August 31, 2009. Natural Gas Vehicle Grant: Grants towards the acquisition of natural gas vehicles or the conversion of vehicles to natural gas. Commercial Custom Design Program – new construction: Use one approved New Construction Program funded energy study to apply for capital incentives.
Power Sense Programs	FortisBC	Energy Audit and Comprehensive Energy Study: Free energy audits to identify energy savings opportunities; rebates for comprehensive energy studies. Energy-Efficient Technologies and Solutions: Rebates for the purchase of energy efficient lighting, equipment and upgrades. New Facility Programs: Free assessment of a building's energy efficiency; rebates for more detailed assessments and toward the cost of efficiency measures. Industrial New Process Design Program: Rebates for building energy efficiency into the design of new processes and implementing technology upgrades.

¹Participation criteria applies to all Power Smart Industrial Program offers.

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