News release

Power of Green Conference Kicks Off With Good News for Communities, Businesses

Economic Development (Aug. 1999 - Jan. 2009)

Twenty-one projects that will reduce harmful air emissions received $2.6 million in funding from EcoNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change, Environment Minister Mark Parent announced today, Oct. 20.

Mr. Parent, opening the Power of Green conference on behalf of Premier Rodney MacDonald, announced the funding for the latest round of successful applicants whose projects will receive grants to help create a cleaner, greener Nova Scotia.

"These grants are a smart investment in the future of our province and help to move us closer to meeting our environmental targets," said Mr. Parent. "These projects have the potential to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in Nova Scotia by 55,623 tonnes per year, which is equivalent to taking 10,113 cars off the road. They also involve major cuts to key air pollutants."

One of the winning applicants, Carbon Sense Solutions in partnership with Shaw Brick and Concrete in Lantz, is developing a carbon-capture process. Carbon emissions will be captured in pre-formed concrete products. The company will commercialize and distribute the technology across Nova Scotia. It could lead to greenhouse-gas emission reductions of more than 20 kilotonnes per year.

"Our company is pleased to support the government of Nova Scotia in achieving its targets by applying new climate-change technologies and services which will undoubtedly reduce the effects on the environment and contribute to the local green economy and knowledge base," said Robert Niven, president of Carbon Sense Solutions.

The Town of Berwick will receive funds to help install energy monitors at 200 homes, which is expected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 2,100 tonnes each year.

"This funding will help many Berwick residents better understand their energy consumption by seeing it in real time, which will lead to cuts in energy use and costs," said Bob Ashley, chief administrative officer of the Town of Berwick.

The Power of Green Conference helps to further the province's Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act and its companion strategy, Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity. The act and strategy are part of the sustainable business case for Nova Scotia. Together, they have the ambitious goal to make Nova Scotia one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world by the year 2020, while ensuring greater economic performance.

Hosted by the Department of Economic Development, the second annual conference is sponsored by government and private-sector partners, including Nova Scotia Power Inc., and the departments of Environment, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, and Natural Resources.

Among the top-notch speakers at the conference was Lester Brown, dubbed "one of the world's most influential thinkers," Barbara Stymiest, chief operating officer for RBC, Cape Breton's Annette Verschuren, president, Home Depot Canada and Asia, as well as Laury Hammel, president of the Longfellow Clubs of Boston.

For more information, visit www.thepowerofgreen.ca and EcoNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change at www.gov.ns.ca/econovascotia .