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Alberta announces $36M rebate program for solar panels on homes, businesses

Click to play video: 'As Alberta’s economy improves, debate over carbon tax continues'
As Alberta’s economy improves, debate over carbon tax continues
WATCH ABOVE: As Alberta's economy begins to turn around, politicians are fiercely debating whether a carbon tax will help or hurt the recovery. Tom Vernon reports – Feb 27, 2017

The Alberta government is putting up $36 million for a rebate program to encourage rooftop solar panels on homes and businesses.

Environment Minister Shannon Phillips says more details are to come and the rebates are to be available as early as this summer.

Phillips says the use of solar panels has doubled since 2015 and the goal is to have new panels on 10,000 Alberta rooftops within three years.

READ MORE: Alberta government looks at options to become 50% solar powered

The program is expected to create 900 jobs in the next few years, and reduce solar installation costs by up to 30 per cent for homes and 25 per cent for businesses.

Phillips says the solar panels would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 100,000 vehicles off the road.

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READ MORE: Notley government to spend at least $9M on solar panels for Alberta schools

The program is part of Alberta’s larger climate change plan that includes a broad-based carbon levy on home heating bills and gas at the pumps.

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