Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF): Up to $250k in Cleantech Funding

Business owners across Canada want to do their part in the national effort to fight climate change, as a healthy and safe environment is required for a strong and fruitful economy. To ensure more SMEs have the resources to take action, the government of Canada is helping business owners invest in new equipment and retrofits to save money, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and reduce overall energy use. Government funding support for these businesses is now available through the Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF) SME Project stream.

The Climate Action Incentive Fund will cover up to 25% of expenses to a maximum of $250K in cleantech funding.

The Climate Action Incentive Fund is dedicated to encouraging recipients to adopt clean technologies that reduce energy usage and achieve cost savings, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CAIF is open and accepting applications until October 14, 2019, or until funding has been exhausted.

About the Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF)

The Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF) is a new Environment and Climate Change Canada program, distributing up to $218M in its first year (2019-2020), funded from the proceeds of the federal carbon pollution pricing system. The program supports small to medium-sized enterprises to undertake retrofit projects that reduce energy usage, costs, and/or GHG emissions.

Applicants may receive up to 25% of a project’s total eligible costs, with a minimum $20,000 to a max of $250,000 per project and per applicant.

CAIF climate change funding is available where provinces have not developed their own carbon pollution pricing systems. The CAIF SME Project stream has allocated funds in 2019–2020 to Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Ontario.

Applicant Eligibility: Climate Change Incentive Fund

Funding is available where provinces have not devoted to their own carbon pollution pricing systems and would benefit from funding for projects to decrease energy usage, reduce carbon pollution, and save money. Applicants must complete their project by March 31, 2021. Additional eligibility criteria includes:

• Operating in one of the eligible provinces: Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick or Ontario; and
• Incorporated small or medium-sized enterprises (SME); and
• Fewer than 500 employees.

Project Eligibility: Climate Change Incentive Fund

Eligible projects for the Climate Change Incentive Fund include retrofit projects that reduce energy usage, costs, and/or GHG emissions. Eligible project categories and sample activities may include:

Agricultural Retrofits

• Changes to agricultural processes to improve energy efficiency
• Fuel switching to lower emitting energy sources in agricultural operations
• Other energy efficiency measures in the agricultural sector

Building Retrofits

• Energy efficient lighting system
• Enhancements to building envelope (with direct energy savings)
• Water heating retrofits
• Heating, Ventilation, HVAC

Electricity, Energy or Fuel Production

• District energy (heating and/or cooling)
• Low-emission fuel production for own use
• Combined heat and power for own use
• Renewable on-site energy systems (e.g. solar, wind energy, micro-hydro, stand-alone storage systems) for own use

Industrial Process Improvements

• Waste-heat recovery
• Process changes
• Retrofitting and upgrading of existing equipment used for industrial processes
• Fuel switching to lower emitting energy sources

Transportation Retrofits

• Heavy-duty vehicle retrofits, including energy efficiency and/or fuel switching to lower emitting sources
• Marine vehicle retrofits, including energy efficiency and/or fuel switching to lower emitting sources

Waste

• Energy efficiency measures in waste management

Apply for the Climate Change Incentive Fund (CAIF)

The Climate Change Incentive Fund is currently open and accepting applications. The program has a deadline of October 14, 2019, or until funding is exhausted. Applicants must complete their project by March 31, 2021. Required forms to complete include the applicant info, project budget, and project info documents.

To learn more about the program and discuss if your upcoming project is positioned to succeed, please contact Mentor Works. We can also help optimize the application and reporting process.