Category: News Release

For Immediate Release
May 24, 2022

econext is celebrating the achievements of its members in balancing economy and environment today at its Industry Awards ceremony.

“The world is becoming increasingly focused on the environmental performance of economies, industries, and communities,” said Kieran Hanley, econext‘s CEO. “Organizations and individuals are doing some world class things here in Newfoundland and Labrador that deserve to be recognized and be part of that story.”

The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, was on hand to announce the winners of econext‘s four industry awards:

• Cleantech Innovation Award – Marine Institute of Memorial University
• Business Excellence Award – Newco Metals & Auto Recycling
• International Business Award – C-CORE
• Industry Champion Award – Ashley Smith

Information on the awards and all of the winners is found in the backgrounder below.

“Congratulations to our deserving award winners, each of whom is helping to drive clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

econext is an association of businesses that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.

Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
CEO
kieran@econext.ca

Backgrounder

Cleantech Innovation Award

econext’s Cleantech Innovation Award recognizes innovation at any stage of development in business and academia – from research and development, to commercialization, to refinement – of products, services, or processes that can mitigate effects to, protect, or enhance the environment. The award is judged according to the uniqueness of the innovation, the potential for positive environmental impact, and the potential for commercial application.

Mr. Paul Brett, Associate Vice President for Research and Strategic Partnerships – Marine Institute

The winner of this year’s Cleantech Innovation Award is the Marine Institute of Memorial University. It has been a landmark year for the Marine Institute as it continues to help drive ocean innovation in Canada – from right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Marine Institute launched its new Ocean Innovation Hub, “The Launch” in Holyrood in November. The Launch provides the Canadian ocean research community with the capability and capacity to capitalize on the dynamic and often scalable environment required to deliver leading-edge research in applied ocean science and technology. Designed to support a comprehensive approach to ocean research, The Launch provides access to vessels, technology, technical expertise and collaborative partnerships, creating an ideal environment to further Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy. The Launch will factor prominently in the recently announced establishment of a Subsea Centre of Excellence at the Marine Institute that will attract industry and support organizations by providing equipment and support for environmental and safety training. The Marine Institute also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The objective is for the research institutions to work together in applying new marine technologies for remote operations and autonomous vehicles. Any one of these accomplishments would be substantive in and of themselves. However, collectively they represent a giant leap forward to establish Newfoundland and Labrador, a global leader in innovation in environmental sensing, characterization, monitoring, and remote operations.

Business Excellence Award

econext‘s Business Excellence Award recognizes a significant initiative or achievement of a business engaged in Newfoundland and Labrador’s green economy. Initiatives or achievements could include the completion of specific business projects that have a positive environmental impact, business growth milestones (e.g., new sales, workforce expansion), or a contribution to the community from a sustainability or corporate social responsibility perspective. The award is judged according to the initiative or achievement’s impact as it relates to economic growth and development, positive environmental effects, and public awareness of green economy and environmental challenges or opportunities.

Mr. Bob Anstey, Owner and President – Newco Metals & Auto Recycling

The winner of this year’s Business Excellence Award is Newco Metals and Auto Recycling. Newco provides a world class service for the metal recycling needs of Newfoundland and Labrador and has been on a rapid growth trajectory in recent years. In 2019 the company decided to take a significant step forward to build a state-of-the-art metal shredder. This expansion has enabled Newco to do full separation of crushed cars and tin metal from provincial waste management sites. Before this investment, much of the material received would need to be shipped to larger markets for further processing. But these new capabilities now allow for sophisticated and automated separation on-site, new secondary processing activities, and the harvesting of value-added products that can be directly exported to markets around the world. Just ten years ago Newco had one facility. Now the company has ten operating metal recycling facilities in Newfoundland and Labrador with another under construction. In this time the company has grown from employing 25 to now providing 100 good green jobs coast to coast. Newco’s success in business has also come with substantive environmental benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador. Over 1,400 tractor trailer loads of crushed metal that would be shipped elsewhere for further processing are now processed right here in this province, resulting in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, its shredder facility and site set a new standard for environmental protection and performance. For example, all rain and water at the site goes through: an oil, water, metal interceptor; a sediment chamber; and a subsurface holding tank to ensure the water coming off the property is clean. This process exceeds California environmental standards. These accomplishments are achievements in business excellence that deserve to be recognized.

International Business Award

econext’s International Business Award recognizes a significant initiative or achievement of a Newfoundland and Labrador organization engaged in international business activities relating to cleantech or environmental services. Initiatives or achievements could include export success, diversification into new sectors or markets, collaborative research and development, or the establishment of international partners be it through joint-venture, licensing, etc. The award is judged according to the relative impact of the internationalization activity for the individual business and/or the industry at-large.

Mr. Paul Griffin, President and CEO – C-CORE

The winner of this year’s International Business Award is C-CORE. C-CORE is an internationally recognized institution in earth observation, remote sensing, and oceans and energy innovation. This past year C-CORE signed a new contract with GHGSat – a global leader in high-resolution remote sensing of greenhouse gasses from space. C-CORE owns and operates two ground stations – one in the arctic (Inuvik) and the other in Northeast Canada (Happy-Valley Goose Bay). The partnership will see C-CORE continue to provide access to this infrastructure to GHGSat’s remote sensing satellites, a technology that is capable of detecting and measuring methane missions at the facility and community level. This leading edge technology is providing unique emissions data and intelligence to business, governments, regulators, and investors worldwide at a time when the quantification of greenhouse gasses has never been more important as the world continues its fight against climate change. C-CORE is a direct contributor to the growth and success of this technology. The unique partnership that C-CORE has developed with GHGSat is an excellent example of how Newfoundland and Labrador innovators can leverage their assets to access and engage on an international scale. The global attention that C-CORE will receive for its involvement in this enterprise will reflect well on Canada, and further cement Newfoundland and Labrador as a centre of excellence in the development and application of environmental sensing, characterization, and monitoring technologies.

Industry Champion Award

econext’s Industry Champion Award recognizes the contribution of an individual (such as an environmental practitioner, business owner, decision-maker, etc.) to the growth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s environmental industry. Contributions can be considered from a practitioner, economic development, or regulatory perspective. Champions can be recognized for singular contributions or the culmination of their activities over a period of time. The award is judged according to the contribution (over and above commercial success), its associated positive environmental effects, and its lasting impact on the industry.

Ashley Smith

The winner of this year’s Industry Champion Award is Ashley Smith. Ashley is the Owner and Managing Director of Fundamental Inc, a company that she founded to pursue action on climate change in whichever capacities possible, with social wellbeing always at the core. For those who know Ashley, they know that she works tirelessly to pursue climate action in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ashley has played a significant role in shifting the dialogue across communities in the province when it comes to climate change action and its social and economic co-benefits. She has fostered working relationships with municipalities, businesses, researchers, and academics that through her leadership have come together on a number of climate action projects. Her impact has been substantive, focusing on a broad range of topics from renewable energy installations, to building retrofits, to asset management, to food security, waste management, and sustainable, affordable housing. Over the last 5 years, her efforts have resulted in significant local investments (including over $1 million in federal funding) in climate action planning, greenhouse gas emission reduction projects, and climate adaptation initiatives across over 25 municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador. She has worked with municipalities like Baie Verte, Bauline, Channel-Part Aux Basques, Paradise, Stephenville, and Torbay to quantify their greenhouse gas emissions and develop community-specific GHG reduction plans for each of them. While these are exemplary professional accomplishments for her and her team at Fundamental Inc, Ashley continues the fight against climate change in her free time. Currently she is volunteering her time and expertise to help to lead a community composting, greenhousing, and food security initiative in her hometown of Harbour Main. The projects Ashley has led in just a few short years have reduced energy consumption, saved greenhouse gas emissions, improved community resilience, and increased awareness and understanding of climate change across Newfoundland and Labrador. Ashley has shown that doing the right thing can not only create jobs, but meaningful, satisfying jobs – and has become an environmental industry champion in the process.

Via Budget 2022, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is introducing a new 20 percent green technology tax credit for Canadian-controlled private corporations that invest in equipment for energy conservation and clean energy generation, use fuels from waste, or make efficient use of fossil fuels. The maximum credit is $1 million annually, of which up to 40 per cent is refundable.

From the Department of Finance website:

Canadian Controlled Private Corporations (CCPC’s) that invest in equipment that generates or conserves renewable-source energy, uses fuels from waste, or makes efficient use of fossil fuels may be entitled to a credit equal to 20% of the capital cost of that equipment.

Eligibility:

• Corporations with a permanent establishment in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Property eligible to be included as capital property of Class 43.1 or 43.2 under the federal income tax act that is;
  • Located in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Acquired for use in the course of a business operating in Newfoundland and Labrador

How to apply

The GTTC will be the applied to reduce provincial tax otherwise payable, or refunded on the corporation’s income tax return.

Refundable

Corporations may be able to receive a refund of any amount not applied to reduce tax payable, up to 40% of the total GTTC.

Carry forward/back

Any GTTC not applied or refunded in the current taxation year may be applied to reduce Newfoundland and Labrador tax payable in any of the next 20 years, or any of the preceding three years, but cannot be applied to a taxation year that ends before April 7, 2022.

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For Immediate Release
April 7, 2022

econext is expressing its support for the decision made yesterday by Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change to accept the Impact Assessment Agency’s recommendations on the proposed Bay du Nord project.

“We recognize that finding the right balance between environment and economy can be difficult,” said Kieran Hanley, CEO of econext. “In this case we think that the right decision was made.”

Canada is the fourth largest producer of oil and gas in the world. Hanley said that the country has a responsibility to push the boundaries of technology and processes to ensure that what is produced is the most environmentally sound as is possible. “The Bay du Nord project represents a step-change in greenhouse gas emissions intensity for oil projects in Canada, and will help drive cleantech development in Newfoundland and Labrador in the years ahead.”

“We are supportive of Canada’s announcement yesterday that oil and gas projects will be expected to feature best-in-class environmental standards and demonstrate pathways to reaching net zero by the year 2050,” said Hanley, noting this is in line with econext‘s position and the objectives of its Net Zero Project.

econext is an association of businesses that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.

Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
CEO
kieran@econext.ca

For Immediate Release
April 5, 2022

Two announcements in Newfoundland and Labrador today are helping to set the stage for clean energy industry growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

First, the province’s Minister of Industry, Energy, and Technology announced an end to the moratorium on wind development.

“The wind moratorium was a barrier that needed to be removed immediately in order to allow for clean energy development in this province,” said Kieran Hanley, econext‘s CEO. “We were very pleased to see the Minister commit to this action today, as it sends an important signal to industry and investors that the door is opening for new renewable energy projects in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Last Fall econext submitted to the provincial government a series of specific recommendations for consideration in the development of Newfoundland and Labrador’s renewable energy plan – a plan that was released in December.

“We are very encouraged by the speed at which the government is moving on the actions it committed to in its renewable energy plan,” said Hanley. “If we can continue progressing and building momentum at this rate, Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to realize its clean energy potential.”

The second announcement today was that the offshore petroleum regulator was expanding its mandate to include offshore renewable energy. In addition, Environment and Climate Change is initiating a regional assessment under the Impact Assessment Act for wind energy in Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore.

“Newfoundland and Labrador has some of the best offshore wind resources in the world,” said Hanley, noting that an important enabling condition for clean growth is the implementation of a regulatory framework that will support it. “The expansion of the offshore regulator’s mandate is another proactive step that will open the door to new opportunities.”

econext is an association of businesses that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.

Media Contact
Kieran Hanley, CEO
kieran@econext.ca

For Immediate Release
March 28, 2022

econext and the City of St. John’s have joined forces to bring other municipal and non-municipal partners together to explore the potential for new programming to help homeowners finance energy efficiency retrofits.

“While we know that a wide variety of energy efficiency retrofits can pay off even over a short period of time, the up-front costs associated with them continues to be a barrier for some homeowners,” said Kieran Hanley, Executive Director of econext. “It is beyond the means of many individuals and families to make those purchases today, even if it means savings tomorrow.”

“We are excited to be partnering with the City of St. John’s to explore what might be possible in terms of programming to address this challenge locally, and to work with other municipal partners to find what can work throughout Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Hanley. Hanley notes creative approaches exist in other jurisdictions that might be replicated in this province. These approaches leverage local, provincial, and federal funds to realize a benefit for the residents.

“In other jurisdictions homeowners can access low-interest loans, borrow from their future savings, combine multiple grants, or even borrow from the expected increase in their home’s value that results from investing into energy efficiency measures,” said Hanley.

“These programs are seeing high uptake and federal funding in other parts of Canada, and we want to conceptualize what is possible here at home.” The collaboration between econext and the City of St. John’s will evaluate municipal programming that exists in other jurisdictions, explore their applicability within the local context, and then structure a proposed program for Newfoundland and Labrador that can scale with municipalities.

“Our goal in this partnership is to address gaps in programming and reduce long-term household energy poverty by leveraging funding from other levels of government and matching those funds directly with homeowners who need it,” said Councillor Ian Froude, Council lead for Sustainability. “The upfront costs of installing a heat pump, or insulating a basement, for example, is often out of reach for residents on a fixed income. The City of St. John’s can play a bigger role in helping residents access funding to cover these upfront costs, and that’s what this partnership is all about.”

Home heating is a major contributor to the province’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Increased energy efficiency retrofit activity will reduce our overall greenhouse gas emissions and put the province on a better path to reaching net zero by 2050,” said Hanley. For electric heated homes, retrofits will help build resiliency in and increase the reliability of the province’s electricity grid, helping to keep rates from rising.

Hanley said a program would help grow the clean economy. “Increasing energy efficiency across the board will create new green jobs and business opportunities in every corner of Newfoundland and Labrador.”

econext is an association of businesses that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.

Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
kieran@econext.ca

econext supports Bay du Nord development

For Immediate Release
March 21, 2022

“The science is clear: the world must decarbonize,” said Kieran Hanley, econext’s Executive Director. “What is also true is that the process of moving beyond fossil fuels is an enormous global undertaking that will take many years.”

“Thus, in a world that still needs oil – the reality is that the continuous pursuit of low-emissions production is a worthy contribution to the fight against climate change.” Hanley said that during this period of transition, oil should come from a place like Canada where environmental, safety, and human rights standards are high.

“We cannot impact the speed at which other nations decarbonize, nor can we impact global demand for oil,” said Hanley. “What we can do is change the game in terms of how oil is produced.” Hanley points to The Net Zero Project as an important effort in that regard for Newfoundland and Labrador – and Canada. “The energy transition involves both decreasing the impact of oil and gas activities and large investments into clean energy projects.”

“Newfoundland and Labrador can become a clean energy powerhouse,” said Hanley, alluding to the rich cache of undeveloped renewable energy resources in the province. Hanley said that the province should have a ‘laser-like’ focus on the decarbonization of its domestic economy and the development of clean energy. “Electrifying transportation and industries, creating the hydrogen economy, building wind and offshore wind projects – this is the future of our province, but we need financial resources to accomplish that.”

“We should be focused on this future; but without the ability to progress reasonable projects like Bay du Nord, reaching that potential will become infinitely harder for this province.” Hanley said that revenues accrued from the project should be re-invested into Newfoundland and Labrador’s clean energy future.

The impact of the offshore industry goes well beyond revenues and royalties; it has played a central role in developing the province’s cleantech sector. “Previous offshore projects have helped to create a wave of ocean technology firms which now export their products and services worldwide, helped to establish internationally-recognized research and development resources and capacity within the province, and helped to foster a world-leading cluster of companies and institutions developing and deploying environmental sensing, monitoring, and characterization technologies.” Hanley said that a targeted focus on emissions reductions can have a similar transformational effect on clean technology development in the province – a prospect supported by the results stemming from Canada’s highly impactful Emissions Reduction Fund.

Canada is the fourth largest producer of oil and gas in the world. Hanley said that the country has a responsibility to push the boundaries of technology and processes to ensure that what is produced is the most environmentally sound as is possible. “The Bay du Nord project represents a step-change in greenhouse gas emissions intensity for oil projects in Canada, and production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador is already 30 percent below the global average.”

“The Bay du Nord project is extremely important for the future of our provincial economy on a number of different fronts,” said Hanley. “It is an important part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy transition and is key to helping us unlock our clean energy potential.” Hanley said the project has undergone one of the world’s most rigorous regulatory processes, and that econext is confident that it will be approved.

“Finding the right balance on environment and economy is a difficult business,” said Hanley. “The Bay du Nord project is a big step in the right direction.”

econext is an association of businesses that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.

Media Contact:
Kieran Hanley
Executive Director
kieran@econext.ca

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2022

econext is indicating its support for recent announcements from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that will support electrification – the process of switching from fossil-fuel based activities to electric ones.

This week the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced additional investments for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, rebates for EV and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and assistance for homeowners to switch from oil to electric heating.

“Here in this province we have access to rich renewable energy resources,” said Kieran Hanley, econext’s Executive Director, “and so it makes complete sense on a number of levels to invest in electrification initiatives.”

“Each process that we electrify helps reduce the province’s greenhouse gas emissions, creates green jobs, and helps mitigate electricity rate increases,” said Hanley. “We encourage the provincial government to move quickly to do what it can to facilitate electrification throughout the economy.”

Hanley said that a long-term electrification strategy should be put in place that includes investments into fuel switching for public transportation, marine transportation, heavy industrial activities such as mining, and building heating.

“Newfoundland and Labrador has the potential to be a global leader in the energy transition as we pursue net zero – and the degree to which we can electrify our economy will play a big role in that.”

econext made a series of specific recommendations around renewable energy and electrification in a submission to the provincial government in the development of its renewable energy plan. Click here to review econext’s recommendations.

econext is an association of businesses that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. econext works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.

Media Contact
Kieran Hanley
kieran@econext.ca