Minister Duclos announces $54.3 million infrastructure greening contract at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier

News release

August 19, 2022 – Québec City, Québec – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Department of National Defence announced the awarding of an energy performance contract (EPC) to Société de Contrôle Johnson Controls in Québec City.

This project will upgrade 81 buildings at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base (CDSB) Valcartier, reducing energy costs at the base by approximately $1.5 million annually, or 26 percent. Energy retrofits will also lower the base’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by almost 9,500 tonnes per year. The money saved in energy costs will then be used to repay the energy service company over a fourteen-year period, which minimizes upfront costs to the taxpayer and guarantees that the upgrades produce savings.

We expect to see the first emissions reductions and energy savings in March 2024, with the full reduction in energy costs by April 2026, when we anticipate all retrofits and upgrades will be completed. This project is also expected to create over 180 jobs in the Valcartier area during construction.

Projects like this will help us meet our target of reducing our GHG emissions by 40 percent by 2025, five years ahead of schedule, and will contribute to the federal government’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Quotes

“We are investing in modern, green infrastructure for our Canadian Armed Forces across the country, including at 2 CDSB Valcartier. This investment will cut over one-quarter of Valcartier’s emissions, modernize CAF personnel facilities, while stimulating the local economy. We will continue providing the right infrastructure for our military and fighting climate change.”


-Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

“Energy performance contracts not only reduce emissions and energy costs, they also help sustain jobs near bases and wings. These projects are a win-win for both local economies and the environment. It’s good to see contracts of this size toward greening efforts, as these are the types of projects that move us toward reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.”

-Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health

Quick facts

  • An energy performance contract is a contract with an energy services company, where the company finances energy retrofit projects at a base or wing and guarantees the savings. DND then uses the savings from the reduction in our energy costs to pay back the company over a five- to 15-year period, limiting upfront costs for the government.

  • Since 2015, we’ve implemented EPC contracts at 13 locations, and alongside our energy service company partners, have invested almost $370 million in energy and GHG reduction improvements. Once the EPC projects underway are completed, we expect to reduce our annual energy costs by nearly $20 million per year and reduce our emissions by over 64,000 tonnes annually.

  • Our facilities remain fully functional during the project, with no impact on military operations.

  • Upgrades will include installing energy-efficient, automated lighting, heating, and cooling systems, upgrading and recommissioning boilers and chillers, and more.

  • EPC projects have been completed in Greenwood, Esquimalt, Petawawa, and more. EPC projects are underway at Comox, Borden, Kingston, Shilo, Halifax, Alert, and Bagotville. Similar contracts are in development for bases in Edmonton, Gagetown, and St Jean.  

  • Defence Construction Canada (DCC) is Crown Corporation that provides contracting, contract management and related infrastructure services to the Department of National Defence. DCC supports Canada’s greening defence initiatives by offering environmental technical support related to energy performance contracts, environmental assessments, environmental management systems, work on contaminated sites and more.

Associated links

Contacts

Daniel Minden
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: Daniel.Minden@forces.gc.ca


Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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