Round 2: Lower Hutt Low Carbon Acceleration Fund in New Zealand

The Hutt City Council earns carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme for forests in some of its reserves. The units can be sold and the revenue can be used to invest in carbon reduction opportunities. To ensure that the Low Carbon Acceleration Fund is cost-neutral to Council, the financial envelope of the Low Carbon Acceleration Fund for each round is based on the number of credits earned in the previous year.

Objectives

• The objectives of the Fund are to:
  • Support Lower Hutt in reducing its emissions faster: achieve (or facilitate the achievement of) emission reductions that are additional to (and/or occur sooner than) what would otherwise occur in Lower Hutt.
  • Encourage action and innovation: mitigate perceived or actual risks for adopters of relevant carbon reduction technologies and initiatives in Lower Hutt.
  • Show the feasibility of achieving change: demonstrate leadership, share learnings and knowledge to stimulate wider replication of successful Projects and solutions in Lower Hutt.

Funding Information

• While there is no specified minimum value, HCC considers it unlikely that Proposals requesting less than $5,000 will be able to make a meaningful contribution to the Fund’s objectives.
• Applicants may apply for co-funding of up to 50% for their Project; the maximum amount of cofunding available per Project is $40,000.

What can be funded? 

• In principle, the Fund is open to any Project, provided:
  • it aligns with the Fund objectives of producing the largest carbon reduction benefits based on a range of criteria,
  • it involves the implementation of the Project in Lower Hutt,
  • any co-funding requested is only for the additional part or incremental cost of the Project, relative to business as usual,
  • any technologies involved meet relevant regulatory requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

• This fund is open to all legal entities operating in Lower Hutt. The following types of organisations are eligible:
  • Businesses (such as limited liability companies)
  • Trusts
  • Māori trust boards
  • Incorporated societies (eg clubs)
  • Schools
  • Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs/not-for-profits)
  • Council-Controlled Trading Organisations

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following organisations are not eligible:
  • Hutt City Council
  • Public Service Departments, Non-Public Service Departments, and Statutory Crown Entities such as the District Health Board
  • Greater Wellington Regional Council

For more information, visit Hutt City Council.