Airdrie Minute: Water Rates, Restriction Reflections, and Clean Energy Funding

Airdrie Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Airdrie politics

This Week In Airdrie:

• The Community Safety and Social Services Standing Committee will meet on Tuesday at 9:00 am. The Committee will be presented with Airdrie’s 2024 Houselessness Estimation Study Highlights Report, as well as an update on Airdrie’s 2024-25 Extreme Weather Plan.
  
  
• Airdrie residents could have a unique opportunity to witness Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). Discovered in 2023, the comet will pass within 71 million kilometers of Earth on October 12th. Expected to be bright enough to rival some of the brightest stars, it should become visible in Alberta around October 10th. As the comet approaches the sun, it will create a visible tail of gas and dust, showcasing the remnants from the early solar system. This may be the only opportunity for anyone living today to see this comet, as its hyperbolic orbit suggests it will not return to Earth again.
  
  
• While Calgarians may see water rate increases to address rising costs related to water, wastewater, and stormwater management, Airdrie residents will not see immediate changes to their rates. The increases are expected to be discussed by Calgary's Council later this fall, with any adjustments projected to take effect in 2025. Airdrie's rates will be reviewed in 2026, with a Cost of Service Study planned to assess how Calgary's utility costs impact neighbouring municipalities. During recent repairs to the Bearspaw Water Supply Main, which incurred significant expenses, Airdrie experienced a 28% reduction in water consumption.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• Council has approved funding for the Clean Energy Improvement Plan, aimed at helping residents finance energy-efficient home upgrades. This initiative will provide loans, repayable through property taxes, allowing homeowners to borrow up to 100% of project costs with repayment terms of up to 25 years. The funding package includes a $2,165,280 grant and a $4.3 million loan from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, with the City contributing $1,623,968 from its operating reserve to keep interest rates low for residents. Eligible projects include windows, insulation, heating systems, and solar panels, and the program is expected to launch in early 2025.
  
  
• The Community Infrastructure and Strategic Growth Standing Committee has proposed a 25% increase in energy reduction requirements for larger commercial and institutional constructions. Airdrie aims to decrease its greenhouse gas emissions by 5% annually over the next five years through life-cycle costing and energy efficiency projects. However, current reliance on outdated National Energy Code for Buildings standards may lead to higher long-term operational costs for heating and cooling systems. If approved, the new standards will necessitate energy and GHG modeling early in the development process, although current projects like the Inspire facility may miss the opportunity to incorporate these enhancements.
  
  
• With outdoor water restrictions recently lifted, Airdrie Fire Chief Mike Pirie reflected on how the Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) managed during the limitations. The department effectively integrated into the emergency management system, receiving guidance from the water services team about the risks associated with firefighting operations. While AFD continued to respond to fires, they modified operations by halting hydrant and hose testing as well as training exercises involving water. Although some training was postponed, including a backlog that will need to be addressed in the spring, Pirie expressed gratitude for the support from the City in navigating the restrictions.