NEIA is pleased to have the opportunity to present a series of recommendations to the Oil and Gas Industry Recovery Task Force.
Month: December 2020
NEIA and FCM Help Six Municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador Transition to a Cleaner Future
Solar panels being installed in Bauline this past Fall
For Immediate Release
December 22, 2020
(ST. JOHN’S, NL) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA), through funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and partnership with Fundamental Inc., has helped Baie Verte, Bauline, Channel-Port aux Basques, Paradise, Stephenville, and Torbay pursue clean growth projects in pursuit of a greener future.
The program brought the participating municipalities through a three-step process, with the guidance of Fundamental Inc. First municipalities measured their contribution to climate change by quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from their operations. Second, the municipalities developed an action plan to mitigate their contribution to climate change. Finally, projects were undertaken in each municipality to kick off their climate action plans:
- In Baie Verte a 12.32kW solar PV array was installed at the Town’s Fire Hall in October utilizing the province’s net metering program;
- In Bauline a 15.4kW solar PV array was installed at the Town’s Community Centre and Town Hall in October utilizing the province’s net metering program;
- In Channel-Port Aux Basques a roof retrofit for the Town’s Public Works building will take place to increase energy efficiency, and soil testing is being undertaken at a potential brownfield re-development to understand the feasibility of using innovative bioremediation techniques;
- In Paradise solar street lamps will be installed for the recreation area and parking lot adjacent to the Paradise Double Ice Complex which also serves as the Town’s emergency warming station;
- In Stephenville a community-scale industrial composter has been purchased to facilitate composting within the Town; and
- In Torbay a 13.86kW solar PV array was installed at the Town Hall in October utilizing the province’s net metering program.
As participants in the program, the six municipalities have undertaken commitments to emissions reductions through peer learning, strategic planning and operational implementation, while leveraging lessons learned from communities across Canada facing similar challenges.
Each project installation also allowed for interested residents to learn about the clean technology projects underway in their town as they were underway
NEIA is one of thirteen organizations across Canada that was selected to help build a network of communities and support them as they develop long-term plans and projects contributing to a low carbon transition by 2050 in alignment with the target date as set out by the Paris Agreement. NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the development of clean technology and the growth of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 200 members. More information can be found at https://neia.org.
The initiative was offered through the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. This initiative has contributed to the FCM-ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program to help municipalities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take action on climate change. PCP is a partnership between FCM and ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability.
Media Contact
Kieran Hanley, Executive Director NEIA
kieran@neia.org
QUOTES
“NEIA was pleased to have been able to attract $500,000 worth of investment for six municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Each of these projects increased the resiliency of municipal operations, decreased their contribution to climate change, and are indicative of the economic growth opportunities associated with the energy transition in our province.”
– Kieran Hanley, Executive Director | NEIA
“Municipalities influence half of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, making local action critical to reaching national targets. I’m proud to see local leaders across Canada continue to work together to build capacity and take action on climate.”
– Garth Frizzell, President | Federation of Canadian Municipalities
“Participating in this program has allowed the Town of Baie Verte to take a small step towards a greener future. The installation of solar panels at our Fire Hall will allow us to lower our energy consumption and see savings in energy costs. This program has opened our eyes to how even the smallest of changes can have a big impact on climate change and we are committed to making changes that will hopefully contribute to a low carbon transition by 2050. I would highly recommend that other municipalities take advantage of similar initiatives if given the opportunity.”
– Amanda Humby, Chief Administrative Officer | Town of Baie Verte
“We are extremely fortunate to have funding assistance from the FCM, and technical and philosophical support from the Province’s Environmental Industry Association, in putting together Bauline’s Green Energy Strategy and participating in this collective energy project with towns across the province. Our long-term plan not only sees the Town generating its own electrical energy needs over the next few years, but it incorporates a viable Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan about which we are very proud. For the smallest town on the north-east Avalon to be able to embark on these kinds of initiatives is a testament to the community, its residents and the organisation’s offering support. In particular, we are indebted to our advisers, Fundamental Inc of Harbour Main, who have kept us on a straight, but purposeful path to energy self-reliance. Our grateful thanks also to the FCM, NEIA and partnering towns.”
– Craig Drover, Town Manager | Bauline
“The Town wishes to thank NEIA and FCM for the opportunity to participate in the T2050 project. The funding received to date will provide major upgrades to our facility and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The long-term planning that has been developed will guide us in accomplishing our carbon emission reduction targets. It is through the hard work of everyone involved that our efforts on Climate Change initiatives are made possible.”
– Leon MacIsaac, Town Manager | Town of Channel – Port Aux Basques
“The Town of Paradise was pleased to be selected for this initiative and it’s great to see a green project completed in our Town. Environmental Stewardship is a guiding pillar in our strategic plan and we are committed to working towards a carbon neutral footprint. This project will help us achieve this goal. We thank NEIA and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for implementing this initiative, and for their guidance and support to municipalities as we work together to address climate change.”
– Mayor Dan Bobbett | Town of Paradise
“Through the Partnership for Climate Protection initiative The Town of Stephenville has been able to achieve a much clearer understanding of our true impact on climate change. Through networking with all participants and partners in this initiative we have been able to determine the value of approaching our future with a strong appreciation for the need for change. As a result of this, we have identified several key projects which will help us reach our goals to decrease our impact on the environment. The forefront of these will be to develop a community composting program which we hope will decrease our solid waste generation significantly. We wish to thank everyone involved for the opportunity to participate and look forward to future co-operations.”
– Ted Gracie, Director of Municipal Services | Town of Stephenville
“The Town of Torbay is so pleased to be working with Fundamental Inc. and have the support of FCM and NEIA in our efforts to become more energy efficient while working to mitigate and adapt to climate change. As a result of these partnerships we have installed solar panels to assist with the energy needs of Town Hall, have created a greenhouse gas inventory, and have a workable plan to become carbon neutral by 2050!”
– Mayor Craig Scott | Town of Torbay
“Working with the partner municipalities to develop transition pathways to a climate positive future has been a very rewarding experience. The commitment of each community and their combined desire to take action on climate change is commendable and energizing. Fundamental Inc is honoured to have been involved in developing for each Town a carbon emissions inventory, setting emissions reduction targets, developing a local climate action plan, and most excitingly, facilitating the implementation of each Town’s first climate action project.”
– Ashley Smith, Owner and Managing Director | Fundamental Inc.
Innovation Centre to raise collective capacity and support attraction of investment and talent in the province
Video of today’s Innovation Centre announcement
For Immediate Release
December 17, 2020
Today, techNL (formerly NATI) is announcing first steps towards the creation of an Innovation Centre for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, bringing together the talent and opportunities found across our economy, including technology, oil and gas, ocean, clean energy, and other sectors.
The Innovation Centre initiative is led by techNL, the province’s technology and innovation industry association, in partnership with: Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA); Canada’s Ocean Supercluster; Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA); Petroleum Resources Newfoundland and Labrador (PRNL); Newfoundland and Labrador Oil & Gas Industries Association (Noia); and others. Funding has been earmarked from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the provincial Department of Industry, Energy and Technology to support two Request for Proposals (RFPs), to be issued by techNL in the coming weeks. The first RFP will help finalize the key activities, programs, and a governance model for the Innovation Centre operations. The second RFP will seek proposals for the physical space where the Innovation Centre will be located.
Establishing an Innovation Centre will bring together industry, academia, and supporting organizations, to raise our collective capacity to drive innovation, commercialization, and competition. Through knowledge transfer and sharing of ideas, new opportunities emerge, and natural collisions occur. In an era where being agile and pivoting quickly is critical, the Innovation Centre will not only identify new commercial opportunities, but will provide efficiencies, learning opportunities, and will act as a focal point to attract investment and international delegations.
The Innovation Centre will showcase Newfoundland and Labrador as an epicentre of innovation and technology, and provide space for local, national, and international innovation events to occur. This presence will help build our province’s reputation and demonstrate that innovation is happening here and supporting the attraction of investment and talent.
At this initial stage of the process, the Government of Canada, through ACOA, is investing $91,000 and the provincial government, through the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, is contributing $26,000 to this initiative.
Quotes
“The digital economy means that an investment in the tech sector is an investment in all sectors. The establishment of an Innovation Centre will help sustain and build upon the extraordinary momentum we have seen in the sector and will translate into a significant impact on the overall NL economy.”
– Paul Preston, CEO, techNL
“Today’s announcement is evidence of what can be achieved when partners can come together around a common objective and vision. This Innovation Centre will be a home for that collaborative spirit, and will drive economic growth for Newfoundland and Labrador for many years to come. NEIA is excited about what the future holds for this province.”
– Kieran Hanley, Executive Director, Newfoundland & Labrador Environmental Industry Association
“Newfoundland and Labrador tech companies are competing on the world stage and creating high paying jobs here at home. The Innovation Centre initiative will help techNL and its partners drive industry-leading innovation and business growth in our province.”
– Ken McDonald, Member of Parliament for Avalon, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA
“This unprecedented collaboration highlights the importance of building and strengthening our province’s emerging tech sector. By aligning talent and opportunities found in a variety of industries, we are enhancing our collective capacity to drive current R&D, and help kick-start tomorrow’s tech leaders. This vision of establishing an Innovation Centre in Newfoundland and Labrador only validates that world-class innovation is happening right here at home.”
– The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“The importance of supporting and developing talent in the tech sector is vital to the growth of the industry in our province. There’s an innovative energy building in Newfoundland and Labrador, and together with industry, academia, and supporting organizations, this vision of an Innovation Centre will further strengthen our innovative R&D capabilities, and be a catalyst in our province’s economic growth in the future.”
– The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“Innovation hubs across Canada help drive collaborative, outcomes-focused activity to increase commercialization and accelerate global leadership. We have seen a number of new hubs established around the world in the last 12 months. This is an important step in Newfoundland and Labrador’s journey to realize significant opportunities in the digital ocean and in the digital economy more broadly and we are excited to see this process move forward.”
– Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“Innovation is a driver of our industries, including the offshore oil and gas industry, and bringing together the leading sectors of Newfoundland and Labrador via an Innovation Centre will have an extremely positive impact upon our people, our province, and our economy.”
– Charlene Johnson, CEO Noia
“A centre like this, bringing together different companies and people and ideas, can spark all kinds of new innovation. We’re excited to see where it can go.”
– Dave Finn, CEO, Petroleum Research Newfoundland and Labrador (PRNL)
“Aquaculture is the fastest-growing and most environmentally friendly form of animal protein production in the world. As farmers of the sea we are continually investing in innovative technologies through every aspect of the value chain – from egg to plate. Being physically located with other industry associations in a collaborative environment will further enable the development of cross sectoral solutions and facilitate product development”
– Mark Lane, Executive Director, Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association.
NEIA helping Atlantic Canadian firms explore opportunities in the UK’s offshore wind energy industry
For Immediate Release
December 14, 2020
(ST. JOHN’S, NL) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is leading an international business development mission to the United Kingdom to help businesses from Atlantic Canada explore opportunities in growing offshore wind energy industry.
“The livelihoods of Atlantic Canadians have always been linked to the ocean,” said Abbie Hodder, NEIA’s Manager of International Business Development, “and the skills and expertise that have been developed here are world-class and highly exportable.”
Hodder says that firms from Atlantic Canada are well positioned to participate in international offshore wind energy supply chains. “The technologies, products, and services required in offshore wind are quite similar to that which we would see in our offshore oil and gas industry – and so there are opportunities for firms in the Atlantic provinces to diversify into a new industry and into new markets.”
Hodder says NEIA’s efforts to assist firms are based on research it commissioned to better understand what types of firms could see success in the industry and how they could compete.
Related:
Momentum in the international offshore wind industry has continued to build despite the global pandemic. In the United Kingdom – already a hotbed of activity for the industry – a bold new plan is being pursued to have offshore power every home by offshore wind by 2030.
“Our Government is working to support greater international market access for more of Newfoundland and Labrador’s innovative and ambitious firms – providing businesses with the tools they need to compete and succeed in global markets,” said the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology. “The United Kingdom is an important market for us, with the recent signing of a Canada-UK Continuity Agreement ensuring our companies can take advantage of export opportunities, like those our partner NEIA is promoting.”
NEIA’s virtual mission is taking a geographic approach over the course of two weeks, with a different region being focused on each day based on the unique opportunities in each area. “The East of England is expected to see $37 billion in investment before the end of the decade, while Northern Scotland is increasingly focusing on floating technologies,” said Hodder. “Each region has unique opportunities for Atlantic Canadian firms, and through this mission we are working directly with them to help identify and pursue those opportunities.”
This virtual trade mission was made possible through the support of the Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) as part of a multi-year project to promote offshore export development initiatives.
“We’re helping businesses from Atlantic Canada build opportunities in offshore wind energy,” said the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA. “This is how we create good jobs and get to net zero by 2050.”
NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the development of clean technology and the growth 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
NEIA launches its Newleef conference in On-Demand format for 2020
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2020
The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) has launched 2020’s iteration of Newleef – the province’s clean technology and green technology conference.
“We know that the stresses and demands on businesses have been substantial since the onset of the pandemic, and so we are trying something a bit different with our conference this Fall,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “We have some excellent content prepared and we thought it would be most valuable if we made it available for on-demand viewing, at a time most convenient for conference participants.”
Hanley said that registrants gain access to a series of 16 curated presentations that help define and explore clean growth opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador. “This year the conference focuses on four distinct themes that are timely with respect to both the province’s economic circumstances and the trends that we are seeing internationally,” said Hanley. “We are exploring opportunities related to electrification, hydrogen, and offshore cleantech – while also providing participants with information on a number of firm-level supports that can help them advance their objectives.”
The conference can be accessed at www.newleef.ca. Registrants will have permanent access to the conference content through 2021.
NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the development of clean technology and the growth of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 200 members. More information can be found at https://neia.org.
Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
kieran@neia.org
