Month: January 2017

For Immediate Release
January 26, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) has made a submission to the provincial government’s Business Innovation Agenda engagement process.

“Innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador is essential from both an economic and an environmental perspective,” says Kieran Hanley, Executive Director of NEIA. “It is key to the long-term international competitiveness of our firms but it is also necessary if we are to develop solutions for some of the unique environmental challenges we face.”

NEIA’s submission is in response to the government’s engagement with stakeholders aimed at developing a new business innovation agenda for the province.

“Innovation does not necessarily mean invention,” explains Hanley. “Innovation is the application of creativity in business. It can be anything from the creation of a new technology, to the use of an existing product for a new purpose, to something as simple as changing the layout of a warehouse to increase efficiency.”

Hanley says that approaching environmental problem-solving through an innovative lens in the province provides economic opportunities. “Because of our small, relatively isolated, and often remote population, we face challenges providing sustainable services in areas like waste management, transportation, wastewater, etc. But the innovative solutions we develop here to tackle those issues are products and services that can be exported to regions world-wide which face similar challenges.”

International business opportunities can also stem from local innovation in the province’s major resource industries, says Hanley. “From oil and gas, to mining, to the fishery, to aquaculture, to forestry, environments across the world can benefit from the products, services, and processes we develop here at home.

NEIA’s submission can be found online at here or can be viewed interactively below.

“NEIA is pleased to have had the opportunity to contribute its ideas and perspectives as the province develops its innovation agenda,” says Hanley. “We look forward to a continuing dialogue on driving innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the growth and development of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 200 members. More information can be found at https://neia.org.

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For Immediate Release
January 5, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is pleased that both Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro have submitted net metering policy applications to the Public Utilities Board (PUB).

Net metering is an energy policy which permits customers to use small-scale renewable energy sources to feed power into the distribution system during periods when they generate excess power – and draw power from the grid when their generation does not fully meet their needs. Net metering, paired with investments in renewable energy systems, can reduce energy costs for customers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Net metering will be an important energy policy not just for our members, but also for energy consumers and the economy at large,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “It will allow businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador to provide their green energy solutions locally; remove barriers to competitiveness for companies in comparison to those in other jurisdictions; and support local firms in testing and marketing their products and services internationally where small scale green energy compatibility is expected of them.”

Hanley says NEIA is encouraged that the submissions were made before the end of 2016, as planned. “We are pleased that the timelines as communicated to our membership in 2016 were met. The willingness of the Department of Natural Resources to engage and inform industry on its expectations and progress is helping firms in Newfoundland and Labrador properly plan in to the future.”

“The PUB is in control of the next steps in the process,” says Hanley. The PUB is an independent, quasi-judicial regulatory body which will evaluate the utilities’ proposals to ensure the policies outlined will not negatively impact ratepayers in the province. “We are looking forward to the PUB starting its analysis on the net metering applications, and are hopeful for a timely review.”

NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the growth and development of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 200 members. More information can be found at https://neia.org.

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Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
kieran@neia.org