By Ethan Ready

Soot for thought

Prince George to benefit from annual Wood Stove Exchange Program

Dec 15, 2019 | 11:19 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – Santa Claus may not be needing to shake off much soot this Christmas.

Especially with a pair of local communities receiving funding from this year’s wood stove exchange program. The program helps people replace old, smoky wood stoves with cleaner-burning models, providing funding to 15 B.C. communities this year.

According to the Province, the burning of wood creates significant air pollution by increasing particulate matter in the air. The Wood Stove Exchange Program reduces local air pollution by helping people trade out old woodstoves for electric models or for cleaner-burning ones like gas, propane or pellet heating.

Eligible British Columbians can apply for the following incentives:

• $250 for changing to a cleaner-burning wood stove;
• $400 for changing to a qualifying electric heat pump, gas or propane stove, or pellet-fuelled stove; and
• $500 for those who live in “Red Zone” communities, which are areas where fine particulate matter exceeds the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards. Residents there can use the money to change to a heat pump, gas or propane stove, or pellet-fuelled stove.

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8,000 old stoves have been replaced through the program with cleaner options. Since 2008, the Provincial Wood Stove Exchange Program has provided more than $3 million. This year’s fund will distribute $300,000 through the British Columbia Lung Association, which also educates the public about alternatives to wood stoves.

Locally, Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable has received $3,000 as part of the funding from the 2019-20 wood stove exchange program. The District of Vanderhoof has received $8,000.