Category: News Release

For Immediate Release
June 13, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) has released a study identifying the supply chain associated with offshore wind energy development, and analyzing the capacity within the province to meet development requirements.

“There are many similarities between the needs of an offshore oil and gas industry, and those of an offshore wind energy industry,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “This was apparent to us last September, while leading a trade mission to Hamburg and the largest wind energy exhibition in the world.” Hanley said the exhibition featured firms providing many of the same products and services found in Newfoundland and Labrador. “Though the similarities were obvious, we wanted to begin to quantify that by engaging in a study.”

The study was preceded by a ‘Request for Information’ from NEIA for firms in the province to self-identify their relative capabilities in offshore wind energy. Emerging from this process, complemented by research, were strengths in areas of direct importance to offshore wind energy development, such as: geotechnical services; health and safety; research and education; environmental engineering and consulting; ocean technologies; monitoring and modelling; legal expertise; etc.

The report summarizes that Newfoundland and Labrador’s 30-year history operating in offshore environments provides a solid foundation for support of any future offshore wind energy industry.

“As the cost of renewable energy development continues to decrease, and the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions continues to increase, we believe that new offshore wind energy projects on this side of the Atlantic Ocean are likely,” said Hanley. “With the expertise we have developed through our offshore oil and gas industry, we are well-positioned to participate in those developments – if we are adequately prepared.”

“The possibility represents an opportunity for our firms to diversify their activities, and some proactive investigation is prudent,” said Hanley. “How Newfoundland and Labrador can participate in offshore wind energy development, whether it be off our own coastline or elsewhere in the region, merits further study and is deserving of an open discussion with stakeholders.”

The study can be downloaded here. Hanley says NEIA will continue working on behalf of its members to quantify opportunities and challenges. Any firms interested in joining NEIA’s Working Group to engage in discussions on offshore wind energy are encouraged to contact NEIA.

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
709.237.8190

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is marking its 25th Anniversary Celebrations with a new mandate to support entrepreneurs and start-ups within the sector.

“The recent focus on clean technology from governments and their agencies has created a new public awareness about the importance of achieving better environmental outcomes in business,” says Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director.

‘Clean technology’ refers to products, processes, and services that improve on environmental performance in support of sustainable development and clean growth. “We believe that the challenges faced in reconciling economic and environmental interests is capturing the imagination of entrepreneurs across the province,” says Hanley, adding that he expects this to result in new businesses offering new clean technology products and services.

“It is important for NEIA to engage these entrepreneurs at the earliest stages,” says Hanley, “because as an association we are able to offer important supports specific to clean technologies throughout the life of their businesses to help them grow and succeed.”

Hanley says that the development of clean technologies will be an important component in Canada’s efforts to meet its climate change and environmental objectives. “This creates an enormous opportunity for new businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador to contribute by providing new and innovative solutions.” Hanley says clean technologies can also be seen as an agent of economic diversification within industries. “Each of Newfoundland and Labrador’s key industries can benefit from improved environmental performances and efficiencies – and those solutions can be exported worldwide.”

NEIA was incorporated on September 2nd, 1992 and has had a strong history of supporting the growth of the province’s environmental industry and its green economy. In recent years, NEIA has strengthened the supports it has been able to offer its members in terms of their productivity and competitiveness, innovative capacity, international business and exporting, and training and professional development.

“An area where we identified gaps in our support system was for start-up businesses,” says Hanley, though he indicated NEIA does not intend to re-invent the wheel. “There are a variety of organizations throughout the province who are providing excellent supports for entrepreneurs and start-ups. Over the course of the next year we are looking forward to establishing formal partnerships with these organizations to strengthen the clean technology start-up ecosystem in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Follow NEIA’s progress on its 25th Anniversary activities at www.neia.org/25th.

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

For Immediate Release
May 19, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is excited by the Public Utilities Board’s ruling yesterday approving Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro’s request to establish net metering programming in the province.

“The introduction of net metering in this province will enable growth in our renewable energy sector,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “It will provide electricity consumers with new options to lower their costs, and allow businesses a better opportunity to incorporate renewable energy in their products and services.”

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.

“This is a policy the industry has been waiting on for a long time,” says Hanley. “NEIA has been advocating on behalf of its members for the introduction of net metering for many years.”

“We are very pleased with the government’s performance on this file,” says Hanley. “It made a commitment in 2016 to establish the policy. Since that time the Department of Natural Resources has communicated with industry on progress and expectations throughout the process.” Hanley says that such open communication between government and industry can lead to timely and relevant public policy and enable economic development.

Hanley says the next step will be for the utilities to finalize and implement their net metering programming. “NEIA looks forward to working with the utilities and our membership to ensure we are ready to meet the demands of energy customers in Newfoundland and Labrador.” The PUB’s ruling allows programming to be rolled out as soon as July 1, 2017.

A number of NEIA’s members provide renewable energy services and will be able to work with property owners to connect technologies to the electricity grid. Contact NEIA for more information.

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 www.neia.org.

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Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
kieran@neia.org

For Immediate Release
May 9, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) held its first Innovation Connector on Monday, featuring the latest in clean technology research from the province’s university and colleges, and exploring the environmental challenges private sector businesses are facing.

“The objective of this event was to create a broader awareness within industry of the expertise we are developing within our academic institutions here in Newfoundland and Labrador around clean technology,” says Kieran Hanley, NEIAs Executive Director. “At the same time, we encouraged industry to send clear signals to the research community on their business needs as they relate to efficiencies and the environment.”

Over the course of the afternoon, attendees took in 24 presentations along three key themes: cleantech in ocean industries; cleantech in waste and water; and cleantech in energy. “Having the opportunity to be exposed to all of this excellent work was an important reminder of the calibre of ongoing local research in clean technology.”

‘Clean technology’ refers to products, processes, and services that improve on environmental performance in support of sustainable development and clean growth. “The development of clean technologies will be an important component in Canada’s efforts to meet its climate change and environmental objectives,” says Hanley. “This creates an enormous opportunity for research and business in Newfoundland and Labrador to contribute by providing new and innovative solutions.”

Hanley says that it is NEIA’s aim to contribute to the alignment of ongoing research and business activities with the climate change priorities of the region and associated growth opportunities internationally. “Through events like the Innovation Connector, we hope to foster increased collaboration between the private sector, academia, governments, and communities around environmental challenges and opportunities.”

More information on the Innovation Connector, including a list of speakers and topics, can be found on the event website at http://www.innovationconnector.ca, or by viewing the #innovationconnector2017 hashtag on twitter. The event was supported by the National Science Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry, and Innovation. The Research and Development Corporation (RDC), Memorial University (including its Grenfell Campus and the Fisheries and Marine Institute), and the College of the North Atlantic were key partners in developing the program.

The event was part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Innovation Week, a province-wide celebration focusing on furthering growth and developing new opportunities in sectors that include information technology, ocean technology, oil and gas and the green economy. More information on Innovation Week can be found on its website at http://www.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.

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Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
kieran@neia.org

For Immediate Release
May 8, 2017

GANDER, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) partnered with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador to present a session on wastewater management at the 2017 Municipal Symposium last week in Gander.

“New federal wastewater systems effluent regulations are now in effect, yet many of our systems across Newfoundland and Labrador need a substantial investment in order to be in compliance,” said Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “The purpose of the session on wastewater management was to provide decision-makers with more information on what these regulations mean to their municipalities, and what some of the potential solutions are.”

The wastewater session included: a review of the national regulations and their implementation; a summary of what those regulations mean for communities across the province; and a panel discussion featuring local wastewater management service providers.

“NEIA members had the opportunity to discuss their expertise in wastewater management, and how their products and services could help meet the needs of municipalities,” said Hanley. “Firms in Newfoundland and Labrador have excellent capabilities to treat wastewater, and as decision-makers develop their plans to comply with the regulations, we want to make sure they are aware of these local solutions.”

Hanley notes that the continued development of capacity within local firms working with wastewater can provide significant longer term economic development opportunities. “There are many other jurisdictions internationally that face the same challenges we do with respect to treating wastewater,” said Hanley. “The expertise we develop here in providing efficient solutions in rural and remote areas where economies of scale are difficult to achieve – can be exported around the world.” Hanley says NEIA actively works with its members to bring their technologies to international markets.

“NEIA would like to thank Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador for allowing us to be a part of their Municipal Symposium,” added Hanley. “It is important that stakeholders on important issues like these work together to achieve the best possible outcomes – from both environmental and economic perspectives.”

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

For Immediate Release
March 28, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is pleased with a provincial government commitment to review environmental assessment and environmental permitting processes.

“NEIA believes that there are significant opportunities to modernize the province’s environmental regulatory framework,” says Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “We see opportunities where efficiencies can be achieved for both the public and private sectors – without impacting environmental outcomes.”

NEIA’s membership is comprised of environmental professionals who work in jurisdictions across Canada and throughout the world. “Our members see, on a daily basis, regulatory approaches which not only have proven to be effective – but also which can facilitate growth and economic development,” said Hanley. “NEIA is looking forward to having the opportunity to work with its partners to collaborate in achieving the best possible outcomes for the environment, the economy, and the taxpayer.”

Hanley says that NEIA and its members have long been asking for an update of the province’s environmental regulatory framework. “Industry is encouraged that government is responding to its expressed needs, and is pleased to see this commitment.”

The province made the commitment to review assessment and permitting processes as part of the next phase of its ‘way forward’ document, released on Monday.

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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Contact:
Kieran Hanley
Executive Director
kieran@neia.org

For Immediate Release
March 23, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) has led a group of five firms from across Atlantic Canada to the Americana conference in Montreal, QC. Americana is North America’s largest multi-sector environmental gathering for business and decision-makers. The event attracts attendees from 40 countries, is comprised of 200-plus presentations, and features 350 exhibitors.

“Participation at international conferences such as Americana provides significant opportunities for business from Atlantic Canada,” said Abbie Lacey, NEIA’s Manager of International Business Development. “It not only helps firms find customers for their products and services, but also allows them to identify potential business partners, learn about market and technology trends, and to benchmark their activities against their competitors.”

“Atlantic Canada is a small market for many of the environmental products and services that are developed by local business,” explained NEIA’s Executive Director Kieran Hanley. “It is important for the growth of these businesses – and the diversification of our provincial economies – that these firms explore international markets.”

As participants in the mission, delegates benefited from the expertise of professional matchmaking consultants who developed tailored firm-specific programming for each business. “Working with a business development professional before, during, and after the event allows each firm the maximize the growth opportunities associated with the conference,” said Lacey.

Hanley noted the enormous potential internationally for clean technology solutions. “Industries in markets worldwide are looking for more efficient and more sustainable products and services to meet their economic and environmental objectives,” said Hanley. “Participation at events like Americana helps firms in Atlantic Canada not just zero in where those opportunities are, but also establish the right contacts to help pursue them.”

NEIA’s international business development activities are supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.

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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Contact:
Kieran Hanley
Executive Director
kieran@neia.org

For Immediate Release
February 15, 2017

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) is announcing a clean technology research matching event as part of Innovation Week – May 8 – 12, 2017. The Innovation Connector will match clean technology research across multiple sectors of the province’s economy with market opportunities and business needs.

“From an economic growth and diversification perspective, the notion of ‘innovation’ is critical,” says Kieran Hanley, NEIA’s Executive Director. “Innovation, whether it be in the development of a new product or the implementation of a new internal process, plays an important role in improving the productivity and competitiveness of a business.”

The Innovation Connector will feature the latest in clean technology research from the province’s university and colleges, and explore the environmental and efficiency challenges private sector businesses are facing. “The objective is to match the expertise of our researchers with the needs of industry,” says Hanley. “These interactions, which do not happen naturally, can lead to innovative outcomes which can in turn create job growth and economic opportunities for our province.”

Hanley notes that the province has not historically been strong in the area of innovation. “Internationally, Canada regularly scores low on established measures of innovation, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s indicators are at the bottom of the pack when compared to its provincial counterparts.” Hanley says research matching events like the Innovation Connector help create the networks, relationships, and business cultures that are necessary to drive innovation.

“A primary focus of NEIA is to help build the capacity of its membership to engage in innovative activities,” Hanley says. He notes that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is currently developing a new ‘business innovation agenda’ to support industry in this regard. “NEIA will continue to work closely with its partners to help enable and support innovation for its members, and is looking forward to a new provincial framework.”

NEIA is welcoming expressions of interest from both academia and business to participate as presenters at the Innovation Connector.

NEIA’s Innovation Connector is taking place May 8, 2017 at the Holiday Inn in St. John’s. More information on the event can be found on its website at www.InnovationConnector.ca. The event is part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Innovation Week, a province-wide celebration focusing on furthering growth and developing new opportunities in sectors that include information technology, ocean technology, oil and gas and the green economy. More information on Innovation Week can be found on its website at http://www.innovationweek.ca/.

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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Contact:
Kieran Hanley
Executive Director
kieran@neia.org

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