Saskatoon’s business community has concerns about the City of Saskatoon’s Climate Action Plan.

The Executive Director of the North Saskatoon Business Association believes in environmental improvement as long as its affordable for businesses.

Keith Moen is concerned about items like mandated solar installation in a tight economy and advocates a slow-deliberate approach to the plan’s implementation.

Darla Lindbjerg says while the 40-point plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-percent by 2050 has cost and savings estimates for the city it doesn’t breakdown the economic impact for businesses.

The C-E-O of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce says just over 60-percent of members who have responded to their internal survey are opposed with two-thirds of them strongly opposed.

Lindbjerg notes members are concerned about additional costs whether it’s taxes or mandatory energy efficient captial expenditures and says their biggest concern is new government regulations.

Mayor Charlie Clark said the city wants to hear the detailed concerns of business leaders during detailed consultations with all stakeholders.

Peter Prebble of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society applauds the plan saying it contains measures proven successful in other communities and supports the establishment of a capital reserve fund.

Prebble believes the city could move quickly on retrofitting municipal buildings with energy efficient devises and feels adding solar panels would provide quick economic and environmental benefits.

City staff estimates the entire plan would cost 19-billion dollars and produce savings of over 33-billion dollars with a net return to the city of about 5-billion.

The Environment Utilities and Corporate Services Committee is recommending city council approve the proposed consultation process.