BC Greens commit to legalizing balcony solar and restoring net metering
The BC Green Party published a renewable energy platform on 16 October 2026 that would legalize balcony solar installations, restore net metering credits for households that generate power, and set a target of 35% electricity share of energy use by 2035.
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The BC Green Party published a renewable energy platform on 16 October 2026 with four commitments, announced at an event in Squamish during advance voting week for the 24 October BC provincial election.
The first commitment is to legalize balcony solar. The party says renters and homeowners who want to install small solar panels on a balcony or exterior wall face restrictions that it would remove. The party does not name the specific rules it would change.
The second commitment is to restore one-for-one net metering. Net metering is the system where a household that generates more solar power than it uses sends the surplus to the electrical grid and receives a credit on its bill. The party says credits should match the rate households pay for power and calls the current arrangement less favourable for generators.
The third commitment is a target of 35% electricity share of total energy use in BC by 2035, with annual progress reports on the goal.
The fourth commitment is to direct BC Hydro to expand community renewable energy projects by approving them faster, connecting them to the grid more quickly, and offering affordable financing.
Jeremy Valeriote, the BC Greens candidate for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, spoke at the announcement. He said: "Renewable energy is no longer just environmentally responsible, it's the most affordable too." He also said the BC NDP put up barriers to solar and subsidized fossil fuel projects. The NDP's response to that characterization was not included in the party's release, and none was found reported at the time of writing.
The party's release cites a July 2025 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency saying more than 90% of new renewable power projects commissioned globally in the period measured generated electricity at a lower cost than new fossil fuel projects. That report is a public document; the party's release does not link to it directly.
All figures in this announcement are the BC Green Party's own, and the party has not published a breakdown of the cost of these commitments.
You can see BC Green Party candidates by district at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-green-party. Advance voting for the 24 October election runs 16 to 21 October 2026 at locations listed by Elections BC.
Questions this story answers
What did the BC Greens announce for renewable energy on 16 October 2026?
The BC Green Party published a renewable energy plan on 16 October 2026 with four commitments: legalize balcony solar installations for renters and homeowners; restore one-for-one net metering so households that generate more solar power than they use receive credits for the surplus; set a target of 35% electricity share of total energy use by 2035 with annual progress reports; and direct BC Hydro to expand community renewable energy projects through faster approvals, better grid connections, and affordable financing. These are the party's commitments as published on its website.
What is balcony solar and why does the BC Greens plan mention it?
Balcony solar refers to small solar panels that renters or homeowners can attach to a balcony or exterior wall to generate electricity for their unit. The BC Green Party says that access to balcony solar installations is currently restricted and that its plan would remove those barriers. This is the party's own characterization. The plan does not specify what regulations currently prevent balcony solar or exactly what changes would be made.
What is net metering and what does the BC Greens plan change?
Net metering is a system where a household that generates electricity from solar panels can send unused power back to the grid and receive a credit on its electricity bill. The BC Green Party says it would restore one-for-one net metering, meaning credits would match the rate the household pays for power. The party says this system was changed and calls the current arrangement less favourable for households. The one-for-one standard is the party's stated goal as of the announcement on 16 October 2026.
What is the 35% electricity target the BC Greens are promising?
The BC Green Party says that if elected it would work to increase electricity's share of total energy use in BC to 35% by 2035, and publish annual progress reports on that goal. The party does not specify what electricity's current share is or what actions would be taken to reach the target beyond the four commitments in the plan. The target and reporting requirement are the party's own commitments as published on 16 October 2026.
Who spoke at the BC Greens renewable energy announcement?
Jeremy Valeriote, the BC Green Party candidate for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky in the 24 October 2026 provincial election, spoke at the announcement. His candidate page is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/jeremy-valeriote. Party leader Emily Lowan is listed as the leader under whose direction the announcement was made, though the release was focused on the party's overall platform commitment.
What does an IRENA report say about renewable energy costs?
The BC Green Party's announcement cites a July 2025 report by IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, saying that over 90% of new renewable power projects commissioned globally in the period it measured generated electricity at a lower cost than new fossil fuel projects. This figure is cited by the party to support its case for renewable investment. The IRENA report is a public document; the party's announcement does not link directly to it.
What is the BC NDP's position on net metering, according to the BC Greens?
Jeremy Valeriote, the BC Greens candidate, said in the party's announcement that the BC NDP put up barriers to solar installations and doubled down on publicly subsidized fossil fuel projects. This is the party's characterization of the NDP's record. The NDP's response to this claim is not included in the BC Greens' release, and none was found reported at the time of writing.
When is the BC provincial election and when can I vote in advance?
The BC provincial election is on 24 October 2026. Advance voting runs 16 to 21 October 2026. You can find advance voting locations through Elections BC. The BC Green Party published this renewable energy platform on 16 October 2026, at the start of advance voting week. BC Green Party candidates and their districts are at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-green-party.
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