The three municipalities created a new financing mechanism, the Financement innovateur pour des Municipalités Efficaces (FIME) program (Innovative Financing Mechanism for Efficient Municipalities), to support energy-efficient solutions like heating, lighting and insulation. The pilot program also included personalized coaching services.
Qualifying households received a loan of up to $20,000, to be repaid through municipal property taxes over an average of 20 years. The program linked the loan to properties and not property owners, lowering the risk of default while increasing property values and municipal tax revenues.
The program quickly achieved energy efficiencies that surpassed initial targets, which was key to its success. In 2017, 12 homeowners took advantage of FIME loans for their properties in Plessisville alone. Residents not only benefitted from higher-quality housing, better indoor air quality and increased property values—they became more aware of their energy use. The program also supported local businesses and stimulated the local economy.
While the anticipated environmental and financial benefits were clear, rolling out the pilot was not all smooth sailing. Regular communication and education were needed to get residents enthusiastic about reducing their community’s GHGs. The municipalities learned that collaborating across organizational silos and hierarchies ensured a more informed and efficient decision-making process.
The benefits of this pilot program have extended beyond Plessisville, Varennes and Verchères. By the end of the pilot in 2017, plans were set in motion to deploy the program to the rest of the province, with 10 more municipalities joining—a true testament to how innovative thinking and collaboration can remove barriers to energy efficiency and lower GHGs.
The [FIME] program democratizes the energy transition among our community members by offering them affordable, environmentally responsible renovation opportunities they would not have had access to with traditional financial institutions."
—Justine Fecteau, General Manager, City of Plessisville
