Month: March 2016

FEDERAL BUDGET 2016 ANALYSIS: New Opportunities for Growth for Newfoundland and Labrador’s Green Economy

Posted on by kieran

Green Tech

  • The provision of over $1 billion (over 4 years) to support clean technology, including in the forestry, fisheries, mining, energy and agriculture sectors. Further details about the allocation of this funding will be provided in the coming months as part of the implementation of the Government’s Innovation Agenda.
  • $50 million (over 4 years) to Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) for the SD Tech Fund. These resources will enable SDTC to announce new clean technology projects in 2016 that support the development and demonstration of new technologies that address climate change, air quality, clean water, and clean soil.
  • $82.5 million (over 2 years) to Natural Resources Canada (NRC) to support research, development and demonstration of clean energy technologies.
  • $50 million (over 2 years) to NRC to invest in technologies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector.
  • Regional Development Agencies (such as ACOA) will double their annual aggregate support for clean technology to $100 million per year, from existing resources.

Municipalities

  • $75 million in new funding for local governments to address climate change, to be delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). This investment will support municipality-led projects to identify and implement greenhouse gas reduction opportunities, including the assessment of local climate risks and the integration of these impacts into asset management plans.
  • A $125 million (over 2 years) enhancement of the FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, including for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This fund finances innovative municipal green infrastructure priorities – including those that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • A new $50 million capacity-building fund to support the use of asset management best practices across Canada, helping communities plan how core infrastructure assets are to be built, renewed, operated, maintained and replaced.

Water and Waste Water

  • A new Clean Water and Wastewater Fund for provinces, territories and municipalities. The $2 billion investment (over 4 yea rs) aims to achieve immediate improvements to water distribution and treatment infrastructure. Funding will begin to be delivered to communities this year, on an expedited basis.
  • An additional $1.8 billion (over 5 years) to support clean drinking water and the treatment of wastewater on reserve.
  • $141.7 million (over 5 years) to improve the monitoring and testing of on reserve community drinking water.

Transportation

  • A new Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, totalling $3.4 billion (over 3 years) with a focus on public transit efficiency and reduction of emissions. $4.9 million of this fund will be allocated to Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • $62.5 million (over 2 years) to NRC to support the deployment of infrastructure for alternative transportation fuels, including charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and natural gas and hydrogen refuelling stations. These resources will also support technology demonstration projects that advance electric vehicle charging technology.
  • Expanded eligibility for accelerated capital cost allowance (CCA) for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This builds on CCAs for equipment that generates energy by using renewable energy sources, with the understanding that these technologies are complementary.
  • $56.9 million (over 2 years) to Transport Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada to support the transition to a cleaner transportation sector.

Sector Development

  • Up to $800 million (over 4 years) to support innovation networks and clusters.
  • A new High-Impact Firm Initiative to help participating firms scale up and further their global competitiveness through coordinated services tailored to their needs.
  • Up to $2 billion (over 3 years) a new Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund. Aimed at enhancing and modernizing research and commercialization facilities at industry-relevant campuses and training facilities, the fund will support infrastructure and affiliated research and commercialization organizations, and projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the environmental sustainability of these types of facilities.

Other Investments

  • Establishment of a Low Carbon Economy Fund. The $2 billion fund (over 2 years) will support provincial and territorial actions that materially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are incremental to current plans, and achieve significant reductions within the period of Canada’s nationally determined target. Resources will be allocated towards those projects that yield the greatest absolute greenhouse gas reductions for the lowest cost per tonne.
  • $3.4 billion (over 5 years) to address climate change and air pollution, protect ecologically sensitive areas and restore public trust in the environmental assessment processes.
  • $10.7 million (over 2 years) for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to implement renewable energy projects in off-grid Indigenous and northern communities that rely on diesel and other fossil fuels to generate heat and power
  • $409 million (over 5 years) to support efforts to improve how garbage and waste is managed on reserve.
  • $573.9 million (over 2 years) to support energy and water efficiency retrofits and renovations to existing social housing.
  • Expanded eligibility for CCA to explicitly allow a much broader range of electrical energy storage equipment.

Institutional

  • $128.8 million (over 5 years) to NRC to deliver energy efficiency policies and programs, and maintain clean energy policy capacity. These resources will support improved energy efficiency standards and codes for products, buildings, industry and vehicles, and further the development of a legislative framework for offshore renewable energy projects.
  • $345.3 million (over 5 years) to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada and the National Research Council to take action to address air pollution in Canada. The funding will allow these organizations to conduct research on and monitor air pollution sources as well as health and environmental impacts; report to Canadians on air pollution sources and on local, regional and national air quality; continue to implement the Air Quality Management System jointly with provinces and territories; administer and enforce existing regulatory and non-regulatory instruments to reduce air pollution; and maintain the economic and policy capacity to develop new policy approaches and regulatory instruments to improve air quality.
  • $81.3 million (over 5 years) to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and NRC to support marine conservation activities, including the designation of new Marine Protected Areas under the Oceans Act.

Link:
2016 Federal Budget
http://www.budget.gc.ca/2016/docs/plan/budget2016-en.pdf

Federal Budget provides significant opportunities for diversification and green economy growth in Newfoundland and Labrador

Posted on by kieran

For Immediate Release
March 24, 2016

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) says that the 2016 Federal Budget delivered on Tuesday offers the province a number of significant economic opportunities.

“The federal government is making considerable investments in green technologies and climate change mitigation,” says Ted Lomond, Executive Director of NEIA. “These investments range from municipal wastewater systems, to reducing emissions in the oil and gas industry, to the development of clean technologies – all of which can be addressed by local firms and educational institutions.”

Lomond says the federal government’s new focus on the environment provides the province with an enormous opportunity to diversify its economy. “Clean technologies can enhance productivity, increase efficiency and reduce waste in many important Newfoundland and Labrador industries. We are witnessing the federal government and its agencies emerge as major partners in the local development and commercialization of products and services that have global potential.”

Click here to view NEIA’s summary of federal budget provisions that provide opportunity for green economic growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“This budget also highlights national needs in areas of particular strength for Newfoundland and Labrador businesses,” Lomond notes. “Whether it is the provision of clean, safe drinking water, the effective treatment of wastewater, or the delivery of environmental services in remote areas, firms in this province are providing solutions that can be employed across Canada with the funding programs being made available. Supporting local businesses in pursuing these opportunities will directly benefit this province and position these firms to be leaders in their field.”

Lomond says funding is being made available to provinces, municipalities, firms, and community groups for a wide range of projects on variety of scales. “The collective challenge we face is being sufficiently responsive and creative to make the most of these prospects.” Newfoundland and Labrador has sometimes not been effective in obtaining its per-capita share of federal funding programs.” Lomond says a sense of urgency is required in this context as many of the federal investments are going to be made in the short-term.

“In order to capitalize on these opportunities, firms must be alert to the potential, municipalities must be proactive, and the provincial government must be agile in its response and swift in the alignment of policy framework and supports.”

NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that supports the growth and development of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 200 members.

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Media Contact
Kieran Hanley
kieran@neia.org
709.237.8190

NEIA Elects new Board of Directors

Posted on by kieran

For Immediate Release
March 22, 2016

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) held its Annual General Meeting Wednesday, March 22nd which featured the election of its Board of Directors and the appointment of Dan Brake, Chief Executive Officer with EMSAT Corporation, as the organization’s Chairperson.

NEIA’s Board of Directors guide the strategic activities of NEIA, which are focused on the growth of the environmental sector through business expansion, professional development, innovation and productivity, export and international business, and policy and advocacy.

Members of the 2016-2017 Board of Directors include:

  • Dan Brake (Chair) – EMSAT Corporation
  • Adam Anderson – Resource Innovations Inc.
  • Don Drew – Newco Metal and Auto Recycling Ltd.
  • Al Ducey – BMSna
  • Lyndsay Haynes – NSB Energy
  • Andrew Peach – Golder Associates
  • Brian Taite – Advisian
  • Alex Templeton – McInnes Cooper
  • Abdul Zubair – Newfoundland Soiltec Inc.

More information on NEIA’s Board of Directors can be found at: https://neia.org/board/.

NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the growth and development of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the province’s premier resource for the environmental business sector, offering a diverse range of expert knowledge and support services for firms and organizations working to grow economic opportunity while respecting our natural environment. NEIA is the business of the environment, and has over 200 members.

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Media Contact
Kieran Hanley
kieran@neia.org
709.237.8190

Submission to the Government Renewal Initiative

Posted on by kieran

NEIA’s response to Newfoundland and Labrador’s “Government Renewal Initiative”.

Download PDF

Newfoundland and Labrador businesses impressing at international green economy conference

Posted on by kieran

Premier Dwight Ball with members of the Newfoundland and Labrador delegation to GLOBE 2016

For Immediate Release
March 4, 2016

VANCOUVER, BC – Three environmental sector firms from Newfoundland and Labrador are showcasing their products and services at the GLOBE 2016 international green economy conference in Vancouver, BC from March 2-4.

EnviroBlu Solutions, Oil Filtration Solutions Ltd., and SubC Imaging are among six Atlantic Canadian businesses taking part in a trade mission led by the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA).

“The GLOBE conference is one of the largest green economy exhibitions of its kind in the world,” says Ted Lomond, Executive Director of NEIA. “It is an opportunity for our firms to find customers, but it is also an opportunity to find partners, learn about market trends, and benchmark against competitors.”

The GLOBE Series conference takes place every two years and hosts participants from more than 3,000 organizations and over 50 countries. The event brings industry and thought leaders together to discuss current trends and to showcase innovative technology solutions for the world’s most challenging environmental problems. Lomond notes that the importance of the 2016 conference was highlighted by the participation of the Prime Minister, federal ministers, and a meeting of the Premiers.

“Every two years, over 10,000 participants from all over the world gather in Vancouver, generating over $400 million in new environmental business,” says Lomond. “This represents a significant opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador firms.”

The mission is being supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Department of Business, Trade, Culture, and Rural Development. As part of the mission, participating firms have a dedicated company-branded space housed in a 400-square foot Atlantic Canadian pavilion. Along with the exhibition space, each firm is benefitting from the services of a professional matchmaking consultant who has tailored a targeted firm-specific strategy of meetings and events.

“The growth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s environmental sector is an important contributor to the diversification of our province’s economy,” says Lomond. “The products and services developed here that address the environmental challenges faced by our industries and posed by our geography can be exported on a global scale.”

Lomond says the partnership between ACOA, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and industry in pursuing sector development is essential. “Providing firms with the support they require to grow is critical to diversifying the Newfoundland and Labrador economy. Participation in world-class events such as Globe is important.”

NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the growth and development of the environmental industry and the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 200 members.

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BACKGROUNDER

EnviroBlu Solutions
EnviroBlu Solutions produces a Multi Purpose Cleaner Degreaser. It is a water based, biodegradable, phosphate free, non toxic, non corrosive, non caustic and non flammable industrial cleaner degreaser. There are a number of products on the market which claim to be “green”or eco friendly but EnviroBlu Multipurpose Industrial Cleaner Degreaser remains unmatched in the industry in MSDS strength, safe properties, functionality and government stock approval. This product is so stable that no extreme safety measures need to be taken. EnviroBlu delivers a healthy and quality pre-emptive solution to your maintenance needs. At diluted strengths, EnviroBlu is also appropriate for many household cleaning activities.
http://www.enviroblusolutions.com

Oil Filtration Solutions Inc.
Oil Filtration Solutions Ltd. is a Canadian incorporated company, with operations based in Conception Bay South, in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador, just minutes from the provincial capital of St. John’s. Oil Filtration Solutions Ltd. (OFS) is the Master Distributor of Generation 2 Filtration™ 1 micron oil ‘by-pass’ systems for Atlantic Canada, Iceland, Greenland & Scandinavia. By filtering oil down to 1 micron, with the added ability of removing water at 99.97% from oil, our line of by-pass filters significantly reduces mechanical wear, while prolonging the life of oil with operational safety. With the installation of our filter systems, customers are able to prolong their diesel engine oil up to a factor of 5.
http://www.oilfiltrationsolutions.com

SubC Imaging
Over the past few years, SubC Imaging has been successful in its mission to establish itself as a leading provider of revolutionary and reliable underwater imaging solutions. Located in Clarenville, NL, the company has effectively attracted a diverse range of clients from around the world and has been growing its reputation for delivering the high-quality, cutting-edge technology that customers require. The current product portfolio includes an extensive line of camera options with a variety of features to satisfy client requirements, as well as support equipment such as LED lights, reference lasers, and batteries. Also available are topside recording solutions that allow clients to add graphic overlays, time/date stamps, serial, and text to their videos.
http://www.subcimaging.com

Media Contact
Kieran Hanley
kieran@neia.org
709.693.6834