(ST. JOHN’S, NL) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) has been granted funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to work with six municipalities across the province to help them explore and pursue greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) reductions opportunities.
“Most of Newfoundland and Labrador’s communities get their electricity from an energy grid that will soon be 98% renewable,” say Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “The low-hanging fruit when it comes to GHG reductions in other jurisdictions – things like renewable energy and energy efficiency – do not have the same impact in this province.” Hanley said that the project will help establish strategies for municipalities to achieve GHG reductions within an existing clean energy context.
The grant, part of ‘Transition 2050’ – an initiative offered through FCM’s Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) – will allow six municipalities to participate in the program: Baie Verte, Bauline, Paradise, Port aux Basques, Stephenville, and Torbay. NEIA is one of thirteen organizations across Canada that has been selected to 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.
Participating municipalities will undertake commitments to emissions reductions through peer learning, strategic planning and operational implementation, while leveraging lessons learned from communities facing similar challenges. “We expect the approaches that emerge from this project to be transferable to other communities across the province,” said Hanley. “NEIA is looking forward to working with these six municipalities in the pursuit of sustainable, clean growth for Newfoundland and Labrador.”
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.
(ST. JOHN’S, NL) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) facilitated and contributed to a number of initiatives during 2019’s Innovation Week that it hopes will contribute to the evolution of the province’s innovation ecosystem.
“Innovation is essential from an environmental perspective, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. Hanley says that the province faces issues providing services in areas like waste management, transportation, wastewater, and more because of its small, relatively isolated, and often remote populations. “New and creative ideas are needed to develop the unique solutions we need to address these challenges, and novel technologies are required to advance our economy sustainably in our key industries – from energy to mining to aquaculture to forestry.”
“We know that the innovative capacity of an economy is a critical factor in the productivity, competitiveness, and growth prospects of its firms,” says Hanley, “and that is why Innovation Week is so important; it reminds us of the importance of pursuing innovation.” Hanley says that Newfoundland and Labrador scores low when compared to other jurisdictions on innovation indicators, and that all stakeholders needs to support one another to develop a greater collective understanding of what innovative is and how we can pursue it.
Click here to watch a video clip from the launch of Innovation Week from NTV
For its part, NEIA participated in four events during Innovation Week. On Tuesday in partnership with the Genesis Centre, YMCA Enterprise, and the Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship, NEIA helped facilitate training for new mentors. “As the startup ecosystem grows, our entrepreneurs need business and technical advice from those with experience and success in order to reach their potential,” says Hanley.
On Wednesday, NEIA held its Cleantech Innovation Connector, which matched private sector environmental challenges with research expertise within the province. “Our private sector in Newfoundland and Labrador does not invest as much as it should into research and development, and so by uncovering challenges and encouraging engagement with academia we are hoping to stimulate innovative activity one business at a time,” says Hanley. Wednesday also featured NEIA’s Cleantech Co-Working Day – an opportunity for its members to work in a casual setting that promoted networking and discussion, and a luncheon open to businesses in all industries featuring a presentation from Innovative Solutions Canada.
“Innovation does not take place in isolation,” says Hanley, noting that it is often a product of collaborative efforts. “And that’s one of the real values of Innovation Week – different stakeholders and organizations coming together to create something greater than just the sum of its parts. Thanks to our friends at NATI for all of their work in facilitating this initiative again this year.”
Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC)’s Manager of Outreach + Communications, Éric-Aimé Patry is delivering his presentation on how #NL firms, looking to commercialize new #tech, can avail of their funding. @InnovateWeekNL#IW2019pic.twitter.com/K4U55jaTp4
Innovation Week brings together Newfoundland and Labrador’s business community, youth, and public and private partners through a variety of events to inspire participants to create opportunities and accelerate innovation in the province. Taking place April 29 – May 3, Innovation Week is an initiative driven by NATI (http://www.nati.net). More details on Innovation Week can be found on its website at https://innovationweek.ca/.
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.
ST. JOHN’S, NL: The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is pleased with the announcement of a provincial Climate Change Challenge Program.
Through a joint funding arrangement between the Federal and Provincial Governments, businesses, municipalities, and others can access funding to undertake projects that result in measurable greenhouse gas reductions.
“When new costs are applied to business operations in the form of carbon pricing, it is important that financial mechanisms are in place to help the private sector transition to a lower-carbon economy,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “This program is a positive step in addressing this need, and we commend the federal and provincial governments for their work in its establishment.”
“We look forward to working with our members and partners to identify and pursue projects that not only reduce GHG emissions, but also help grow the province’s environmental sector and green economy,” said Hanley, noting that NEIA’s membership provides a variety of products and services that can assist project proponents in their efforts.
“Just last month, NEIA released its Clean Technology and Environmental Services Directory. This resource will help both the public and private sectors engage local businesses that can facilitate greenhouse gas reductions and clean growth.”
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Clean Technology and Environmental Services Directory – link
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 http:// www.neia.org.
Industry ready to respond to environmental challenges, opportunities
For Immediate Release
March 1, 2019
CORNER BROOK, NL: The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is congratulating the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on the release of its Climate Change Action Plan.
“It is important that government explicitly outlines its climate change priorities, as it has done today,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “Knowing the environmental challenges and opportunities that the province is focusing on… allows the private sector to respond in-kind.”
Hanley says that NEIA’s membership provides a variety of products and services that can assist the province in adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change. “This week NEIA released its Clean Technology and Environmental Services Directory,” said Hanley. “This resource will help both the public and private sectors engage local businesses that can facilitate greenhouse gas reductions and clean growth.”
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Clean Technology and Environmental Services Directory – link
NEIA members were very engaged in the development of the climate change action plan, noted Hanley. “NEIA launched an industry engagement campaign in 2016, which culminated in a comprehensive series of recommendations for the provincial government to consider,” said Hanley.
“We know that years of hard work by our public sector has gone in to this plan; NEIA looks forward to studying the result, and is eagerly anticipating more information on programming available to help businesses thrive in the lower-carbon economy.”
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.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Clean Technology and Environmental Services Directory – link
For Immediate Release
February 26, 2019
(ST. JOHN’S, NL) – After more than a year in development, the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) has published its Clean Technology and Environmental Services Directory. The directory quantifies the capabilities of the province’s private sector and research and development assets relating to clean technology and environment, and is the first step in framing the sector’s innovation ecosystem.
“NEIA set out to produce this directory for three reasons,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “First, we wanted to provide local decision makers in both the public and private sector with easy-to-access information on the products and services available from local business.” Hanley said that is important that firms from Newfoundland and Labrador have every opportunity to benefit from local projects and initiatives.
“Second, NEIA will use this directory to create a greater awareness of the sector-at-large and the individual capabilities of those within it throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and target international markets.” Hanley noted that the interest in and demand for clean technologies and environmental services is rapidly growing worldwide. “It is estimated that the global market for clean technologies will grow to $2.5 trillion by 2022, up from $1.1 trillion in 2012, and so the development, application, and export of clean technology presents an enormous opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador businesses.” Hanley said that NEIA has partnerships throughout Canada and in priority international markets that will respond well to the directory – and put it to good use.
“Finally we wanted to create a tool for cleantech innovators to find local resources and partners,” said Hanley. The directory is intended to connect entrepreneurs, intrapreneurial firms, and researchers with interests in clean technology and the environment. “While the directory will do much to promote the local products and services readily available, we hope it also contributes to increased collaboration within the clean technology community – which in turn can lead to more economic activity and innovation.”
“This directory will be continuously refined,” said Hanley. “NEIA’s team has worked hard over the past year to identify capabilities throughout the province, but inevitably some will have been missed.” Hanley said he hopes that the existence of the directory will help flesh out those in the ecosystem with products or services that could be considered clean technologies. “There’s opportunity for these firms, but to help them we need to know them.”
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Clean Technology and Environmental Services Directory can be accessed online at www.CleanTechNL.ca where print copies can also be requested.
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.
(ST. JOHN’S, NL) – On February 28th, 2019 the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is hosting CleanTechWest, a workshop exploring clean technology and green technology business opportunities specific to the west coast of Newfoundland.
“It is estimated that the global market for clean technologies will grow to $2.5 trillion by 2022,” says Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. Hanley says that this growth represents enormous opportunities for the development, application, and export of clean technology products, services, and expertise for the province.
“The intent of this workshop is to learn from one another about opportunities and interests specific to Western Newfoundland, and grow the community of stakeholders interested in sustainable clean economic growth,” says Hanley.
The CleanTechWest workshop focuses on three themes: renewable energy, waste management and value from waste, and the forestry sector. “These are areas where NEIA sees opportunity specific to the region,” says Hanley, pointing to a provincial government commitment to develop a renewable energy plan, emerging ideas and initiatives to address both residential and industrial waste, and the recently released Forestry Sector Work Plan. “Many of the action items from this plan are related to sustainability, climate change, the environment, and clean technology,” notes Hanley, “and we are going to zero in on these actions to see what role industry can play.”
“Western Newfoundland has developed unique environmental research expertise through its academic institutions, and this aligns well with the opportunities that we see,” says Hanley. “We are looking forward to engaging green economy stakeholders at CleanTechWest – from industry, to academia, to government – to share challenges, ideas, and initiatives to see where there may be opportunities for partnership and collaboration.”
More information on the CleanTechWest workshop, and registration details, can be found at https://neia.org/cleantechwest/. 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.
ST. JOHN’s (NL) – On January 28, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and forestry sector stakeholders released a work plan for the forestry industry to support economic growth and foster private sector job creation. The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is looking forward to the plan’s implementation.
“NEIA has contributed on behalf of its membership throughout the development of this work plan,” says Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “We are a partner on a number of the action items agreed upon by government, industry, and academia.”
Hanley says that many of the opportunities facing Newfoundland and Labrador’s forestry sector are related to clean technology and the environment. “From the adoption of biofuel technologies, to the development of low-carbon building products, to finding efficiencies through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and finding value from organic wastes, there is significant room for green economic growth within our forestry sector.”
Hanley says this presents opportunity for entrepreneurs and innovative firms in the province. “In addition, the forestry sector is going to require the expertise of our members to address challenges around climate change, sustainable resource management, and the emerging low-carbon economy.”
NEIA is working closely with the Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry Industry Association (NLFIA) on a number of pursuits of mutual interest. “We look forward to working with the NLFIA towards the implementation of this work plan; a strong forestry sector provides opportunities for the development and application of clean technologies – and vice versa.”
Click here to download the forestry sector work plan, or view it interactively below.
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.
(ST. JOHN’S, NL) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is encouraging organizations to engage it with their clean technology and environmental project ideas.
“There are a number of funding opportunities available right now from a variety of sources to support clean growth activities,” says Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “NEIA can help organizations understand what these opportunities are and assist them in making the connections necessary to pursue funding.”
Hanley says that supports exist for a wide number of initiatives. “Businesses of all sizes, municipalities, and other organizations can avail of funding, and pursuits can range from the research and development of new technologies and processes, to piloting new products or services, to the adoption of existing technologies.”
Clean technology can be defined as being products, processes, or services that improve on environmental performance (e.g. improving efficiency, reducing wastes, and/or mitigating the environmental risks of business activity). “Cleantech can be applied in any industry – from mining, to the fisheries, to energy, to manufacturing,” says Hanley. “There is a real interest to support cleantech development and adoption throughout the economy to help reduce environmental impacts.”
Hanley says there are also programs available to support projects that are more ‘environmental’ in scope, with the primary purpose of enhancing the natural environment. “A particular focus is on projects that can lead to a quantifiable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” says Hanley.
NEIA’s mandate is to support the development of clean technology and the growth of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. Hanley says that NEIA can increase ‘green’ activity by brokering relationships to connect potential projects with funding sources. “If we don’t know what potential projects are out there, we can’t help,” says Hanley. “Through this open call we hope to be able to engage with businesses, municipalities, and other organizations to contribute to a wave of clean growth initiatives.”
Proponents can contact Hanley directly at kieran@neia.org with their projects.
NEIA has over 200 members. More information can be found at https://neia.org.
In December the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) led an international business trade mission of nine delegate firms to the Caribbean region to pursue and expand on business opportunities, including engagements in Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, St. Lucia, Belize, and Guyana.
“Since 2014, NEIA has had an active program of supports in place to assist clean technology and environmental services firms from Newfoundland and Labrador pursue business opportunities in Caribbean markets,” said Abbie Lacey, NEIA’s Manager of International Business Development. “These supports have resulted in projects and exports for businesses from this province.”
Lacey said that markets in the Caribbean are an excellent fit for Newfoundland and Labrador firms. “The environmental challenges being faced by these small and primarily island nations – from coastal erosion to wastewater management to their distance from major markets – are very similar to the challenges we are facing here at home.”
Since the beginning of its program, NEIA has helped over two dozen firms develop strategies to enter Caribbean markets and has led six business development missions to the region. NEIA supports participants by providing professional matchmaking services, catered to the specific needs and opportunities for each business, to help firms find and meet potential partners in their markets of interest.
Lacey said that Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service was an integral support for the mission, its participants, and the ongoing trade relationship between Newfoundland and Labrador and the Caribbean region. “The Trade Commissioners within these markets have excellent intelligence and networks that provides substantial value to NEIA and its membership.”
NEIA’s international business initiatives in the region are a product of a continued collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Innovation, and Industry and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “The provincial government and ACOA have been strong partners in the pursuit of international business growth for our sector,” said Lacey. “We look forward to continued collaboration towards the diversification of our provincial economy through export and trade.”
To learn more about NEIA’s activities in the Caribbean, click here.
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.
ST. JOHN’S (NL) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is celebrating the achievements of three members who are the winners of the province’s Environmental Industry Awards.
“As an association focused on business and industry growth, much of our time is spent planning for the future,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “But it is equally important to celebrate the achievements of today; for that reason, this past year we were proud to renew our awards program and recognize those businesses and individuals who are helping develop clean technologies and grow the green economy in our province.”
NEIA’s Industry Awards program features winners in three categories:
The Cleantech Innovation Award recognizes achievement in research and development, commercialization, and/or refinement of products, services, or processes that can mitigate effects to, protect, or enhance the environment. 2018’s Cleantech Innovation Award has been presented to Intelligent Materials and Monitoring. “Intelligent Materials and Monitoring has developed a water-sampling instrument that has the potential to significantly reduce the time and environmental impact associated with traditional techniques,” said Hanley.
Intelligent Materials and Monitoring Co-Founder Dr. Stefana Egli.
The Environmental Industry Business Excellence Award recognizes a significant initiative, project, or achievement of a business engaged in Newfoundland and Labrador’s green economy. 2018’s Environmental Industry Business Excellent Award has been presented to Anaconda Mining. “Anaconda Mining took a different approach with the excess rock produced from its mining operations, displacing 3.5 million tonnes of what would normally be waste and transforming that in to new revenues and jobs for the region,” said Hanley.
Allan Cramm, Vice-President for Innovation and Development for Anaconda Mining
The Environmental Industry Champion Award recognizes the contribution of an individual to the growth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s environmental industry. 2018’s Environmental Industry Champion Award has been presented to Leslie Grattan. “Leslie’s contributions throughout her career – whether that be in her capacity as a regulator, decision-maker, practitioner, business owner, or volunteer – have been significant and will leave a lasting impact on this province’s green economy; NEIA is proud to recognize her as an industry champion,” said Hanley.
Leslie Grattan
More information on the award winners can be found in the attached backgrounder. 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.
Intelligent Materials and Monitoring is a clean technology company spin-off from Memorial University that commercializes a synthetic polymer material, AqMIP that can selectively absorb certain chemicals like environmental contaminants, with first application being a portable water sampling analysis consumable. The technology and product were developed at Memorial University through the efforts of an interdisciplinary team of researchers, led by Chemistry (Professor Christina Bottaro) in collaboration with Process Engineering (Professor Kelly Hawboldt) and Translational Research (Assistant Professor Carlos Bazan). The AqMIP allows for on-site sampling and significantly reduces the average time spent for water sample handling and analysis. The technology offers many advantages over the current standard methods of sampling: it reduces contaminant sampling volume by 50x, from 1L to 20 mL, minimizes waste by as much as 98%, can be used directly on raw samples, allowing for accurate on site sampling, can easily be integrated into the existing laboratory infrastructure with no additional costs; it can potentially be deployed using remotely operated vehicles; and perhaps most important significantly reduces overall costs of analysis. There is enormous potential for the technology to eliminate the environmental impact of continuous transportation of large water samples from offshore to onshore, from remote locations to laboratory facilities, to increase the throughput of samples for a more accurate analysis, and to provide data quickly when environmental threats emerge or for daily environmental compliance monitoring. There are many potential applications for the technology in daily environmental monitoring and analysis in offshore oil and gas, fisheries and aquaculture, marine transportation, drinking water, wastewater, etc. The company is currently carrying out product testing with potential Canadian clients. Accepting the award on behalf of Intelligent Materials and Monitoring is Co-Founder Dr. Stefana Egli.
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Business Excellence Award
Anaconda Mining
One person’s trash is another’s treasure; Anaconda Mining has fully embraced this philosophy. In its gold mining operations in Baie Verte, Anaconda creates significant sums of waste rock – enough to fill 100,000 tractor trailers. But rather than treat the rock as waste, Anaconda Mining took a second look at the aggregate and considered whether it actually held some value. Anaconda began to view this waste stream as an opportunity and explored options for shipping the waste rock via Baie Verte harbour. It found a partner on the Eastern seaboard interested in using the waste rock – over 3.5 million tonnes of it – for use in construction projects in the United States. The subsequent shipment of aggregates for this venture reduced the need for waste rock disposal on site and has decreased the overall environmental footprint of the project. But as with all great green economy projects, the benefits were not just environmental – there was a significant business upside as well. Through this initiative Anaconda has generated almost $1 million in new revenues in the last year alone, and has helped to create over 70 direct jobs for onshore operations as well as tug operators, harbour pilots, and hand-lining services. This project puts on full display Anaconda Mining’s commitment to economic development through environmental sustainability. Accepting the award on behalf of Anaconda Mining is Allan Cramm, Vice-President for Innovation and Development.
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Industry Champion Award
Leslie Grattan
Leslie Grattan is an environmental management practitioner and entrepreneur who has made a significant contribution to the growth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s environmental industry. Ms. Grattan started her career in Ottawa where she was the first environmental professional in the federal agency regulating the offshore oil and gas industry. In this role she facilitated collaboration between government and industry to understand the environmental effects of offshore oil and gas in eastern Canada, and played a key role in developing the environmental requirements for the sector. The environmental assessment of the Hibernia brought Ms. Grattan back to Newfoundland in 1980, where she stayed in the offshore oil sector for nearly 20 years. In the late 90s, Ms. Grattan served as Newfoundland and Labrador’s Deputy Minister for the then Department of Environment and Labour where she made significant contributions to the creation of the provincial waste management strategy, collaboration with the federal government on integrated coastal management and multi-party environmental assessment agreements. Ms. Grattan now has her own consulting firm, which she started in 2004, and continues to apply her expertise to marine projects locally and internationally. Recently Ms. Grattan has played an important role in facilitating business relationships and knowledge transfer between Newfoundland and Labrador and Guyana’s offshore oil and gas industry. Ms. Grattan has served on a number of boards, lending her expertise to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the Oceans Learning Partnership. Leslie Grattan’s contributions as a regulator, decision-maker, practitioner, business owner, volunteer, and ambassador have made her a champion of Newfoundland and Labrador’s environmental industry.
