MANITOBA CLIMATE INVESTMENT PILOT PROGRAM

The Manitoba Climate Investment Pilot Program (MCIP) has successfully completed its first round of applications.  Please check this site again for future application dates.  MCIP’s objective is to assist businesses and not-for-profit organizations in Manitoba to measure and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Q: Who can participate in the Manitoba Climate Investment Pilot Program?

Private and not-for-profit organizations located in Manitoba are eligible to participate in the pilot program. Business and agencies across all sectors are eligible.  Government departments, agencies of government, and municipal governments are not eligible to participate.

Crown Corporations are eligible to participate.

Q: What is the purpose of the program?

The MCIPP is intended to advance initiatives that achieve quantifiable emissions reductions by encouraging the private and not-for-profit sectors to take action on climate change.

Q: What are the components of the program?

There are two granting programs available. The Corporate Capacity Building Grant is in place to help organizations develop their baseline greenhouse gas inventories, while the Climate Mitigation Action Grant will help offset the costs associated with GHG emission reduction projects.

Q: How much funding is available?

A total of $250,000 is available through this pilot program; $30,000 has been allocated to helping organizations develop their baseline inventories through the Corporate Capacity Building Grant and $220,000 has been allocated toward GHG emissions reductions projects through the Climate Mitigation Action Grant.

Q: Can my organization apply into both grant programs?

Organizations can participate in one or both of the grant programs. Baseline GHG inventories are not required prior to undertaking a GHG emissions reduction project through the Climate Mitigation Action Grant.

Corporate Capacity Building Grant

Q: Why is it important for my organization to complete a GHG inventory and report its emissions?

Greenhouse gases are a very good indicator of where inefficiencies in your organization may be. Measuring your GHG emissions helps you identify these inefficiencies – as well as opportunities – so you can take action.  In addition, measuring and managing your emissions helps build competitive advantage and demonstrates responsible leadership to your stakeholders.

Q: What is The Climate Registry and how will they help my organization develop its GHG inventory?

The Climate Registry is a non-profit organization and is the official voluntary GHG registry of states, provinces (including Manitoba), territories and tribes across North America. Their program is renowned for its high quality and credibility, and is consistent with international best practice in GHG measurement and reporting. For more information on The Climate Registry please visit www.theclimateregistry.org.

The Registry has over 430 Members from across varied sectors in North America. The Registry promotes the leadership of its Members through various communication activities as well as the Climate Registered program. Members who meet certain reporting and reduction milestones can achieve Climate Registered, Silver, Gold or Platinum status. The Registry is a unique North American platform for sharing best practices in carbon and energy management, as well as the latest developments in carbon and climate policy.

Q: How long does my organization have to complete its GHG inventory?

GHG inventories must be completed within one year of signing a Contribution Agreement with Manitoba.

Q: How much funding can my organization receive to perform its GHG inventory?

Organizations will be reimbursed for the cost of a one year basic membership in The Climate Registry (TCR) to a maximum of $4,000. This membership will provide participating organizations with access to TCR reporting software and training on organizational accounting and reporting into The Climate Registry.

If organizations opt to have their GHG inventories verified by a third party, up to $10,000 in additional funding to help offset third party verification costs may be provided based on funding availability.

Participating organizations will be reimbursed at specific milestones of their GHG inventory projects; these will be outlined in a Contribution Agreement with Manitoba.

Q: Is third party verification of my organization’s GHG inventory required?

Third party verification and public reporting are not required but are encouraged.

Q: What is the deadline for applying into this grant?

There is no deadline for applying to the Corporate Capacity Building Grant, however, funding will be provided on a first come first served basis.

Climate Mitigation Action Grant

Q: What is the Climate Mitigation Action Grant?

The Climate Mitigation Action Grant is a competitive grant fund to help proponents offset the cost of GHG emissions reductions projects. A total of $220,000 is available in this grant cycle. Examples of eligible projects include energy conservation and efficiency improvements, switching to cleaner fuels, and improvements to industrial process resulting in GHG emissions reductions.

Q: How much funding is available to my organization through this grant?

There is no ceiling level of funding for this grant. A total of $220,000 has been allocated to this grant program.

Q: How is the amount of funding allocated to approved projects calculated?

Funding will be provided to a maximum of $10.00 per tonne of quantifiable emission reduction, and provided for the life of the project to a maximum of 10 years.

For example, if an approved project proposal demonstrated emissions reductions of 500 tonnes per year, with assurance that the reductions would be sustained for a minimum of 10 years, the proponent would be eligible for a one-time grant of $50,000.00.

Q: Is there a minimum annual level of GHG reductions that each project proposal must demonstrate?

Yes, each project proposal must reasonably demonstrate that at least 50 tonnes of GHG reductions will be achieved annually, and provide an assurance that these will be sustained over a 10-year period.

Q: How long does my organization have to complete its GHG reduction project and how are payments disbursed?

Successful applicants will have one year from the time a Contribution Agreement is signed with Manitoba to implement their projects.

Payments will be disbursed to successful proponents on an incremental basis at specific milestones outlined in the signed Contribution Agreement.

Q: How will my organization’s proposal be assessed?

Applications will be reviewed by a technical committee led by the Climate Change Branch of Manitoba Conservation. Projects with the highest scores will be awarded funding, review criteria will include the following:

• Additionality (40%): Projects must show measureable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that result from activities considered above “business as usual” obligations or practices. Projects must demonstrate that emissions at the end of the project will be lower than and the beginning of the project, and that they would not have proceeded without the support of the MCIPP grant.

• Permanence (30%): Proposals must provide a reasonable level of assurance that the GHG reductions will be sustained for a minimum period of 10 years.

• Cost-effectiveness (15%): The relative cost effectiveness of achieving the projected level of GHG emissions reductions.

• Transferability (5%): The degree to which the proposed project will lead to further GHG reductions by the transfer of the project approach to other organizations or sectors.

• Project Approach (5%): The feasibility of the proposed approach, including how well the proponent proposes to achieve results, and innovation of the proposed approach.

Other Beneficial Outcomes (5%): Examples include opportunitiesto promote green economic development, energy conservation and environmental benefits; and opportunities to involve the public and stakeholders, and to promote awareness of the project and its objectives.

Q: My organization recently undertook a GHG reduction project, are we eligible to apply?

To recognize credit for early action, projects that were initiated on or after April 1, 2011 can to apply to this grant.

Q: Can my organization “stack” funding from other programs as well?

Yes, this program can be accessed in combination with other funding sources such as Manitoba Hydro, and the Government of Canada.

Q: What happens with the carbon credits that result from my organization’s GHG reduction project?

Successful proponents must agree that the credit for greenhouse gas reductions resulting from the entire project (whether funded in full or in part by Manitoba) will not be sold, traded or exchanged with entities outside of Manitoba at any period in time, and that projects will remain in place for a minimum 10 year period. These details will be outlined in the Contribution Agreement with Manitoba.

Q: When are project proposals due?

To be eligible for review, applications for the Climate Mitigation Action Grant must be received by no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday September 16, 2011.

Q: When will proponents be notified?

Proponents will be notified by October 14, 2011.

COMPLETED APPLICATIONS

Completed applications for both MCIPP grant programs should be sent to one of the following:

EMAIL TO: ccinfo@gov.mb.ca

MAIL TO:
Manager, Manitoba Climate Investment Pilot Program
Climate Change and Environmental Protection Division
1200 – 155 Carlton Street
Winnipeg MB  R3C 3H8

FAX TO:  (204) 943-0031