Emissions Reduced in ecoNova Scotia's First Year
More Nova Scotian municipalities, businesses, and community groups are helping to reduce harmful air emissions with funding support from ecoNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change.
The province's ecoNova Scotia fund has committed to support 43 environmental projects this year with grants totaling $15.5 million, according to its annual report, released today, Dec. 4.
"This program helps Nova Scotians invest in innovation and technology that will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollutants while contributing to economic sustainability," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment. "We all have a part to play in reducing harmful air emissions that cause climate change and affect local air quality."
Protecting the environment is one of the governments key priorities.
The projects are expected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in Nova Scotia by 161,000 tonnes per year. Air pollutant emissions will go down by more than 602,000 kilograms per year. The emissions reductions will be the equivalent of removing close to 30,000 cars from the road.
The funds invested by ecoNova Scotia will generate projects worth more than $54 million. The funds are part of the federal Canada Trust program.
"The Canada Trust demonstrates clear leadership by encouraging communities, organizations and companies to find solutions to our environmental challenges," said Peter MacKay, Minister responsible for Nova Scotia. "The progress made by Nova Scotia on environmental initiatives is impressive and the government of Canada is pleased to support these efforts."
The ecoNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change annual report, and an executive summary, are available at www.gov.ns.ca/ecoNovaScotia . Copies will be provided upon request. The fund will build on the year's successes by continuing to support eligible environmentally innovative projects for the next two years.
The Environmental Technology Program, a part of ecoNova Scotia, funds projects that increase energy efficiencies, develop renewable energy technologies, or reduce energy use. The municipal program supports community-led projects that reduce greenhouse-gas and air-pollutant emissions. Both funds are open to application every three months.
The fund has also made significant investments in a tidal energy demonstration project, the conversion from heavy oil to natural gas by the province's biggest hospital complex, a study to assess how to integrate wind energy into the provincial power grid, and a cogeneration facility at Minas Basin Pulp and Power that will produce heat and electricity from biomass, or wood fibre.
The $42.5 million ecoNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change fund was created with financial resources from the government of Canada and is managed by the province. An inter-departmental committee, led by the departments of Environment and Energy, oversees the fund.
More information on ecoNova Scotia, including how to apply for funding, is available at www.gov.ns.ca/econovascotia .