February 24, 2011
Vancouver, British Columbia
A total of $11.2 million in federal-provincial funding will help the University of British Columbia (UBC) undertake a clean heat and power project. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and the Honourable John Yap, BC Minister of State for Climate Action.
"Investing in clean energy technologies stimulates the growth of a domestic clean energy industry, creating high-quality jobs for Canadians," said Minister Yelich. "Moving forward aggressively with investments in clean energy technologies will help us balance our need for energy with our need to protect the environment."
With the goal of reducing its reliance on traditional methods of energy consumption, UBC has partnered with Nexterra and GE Energy to provide the innovative technology needed to generate clean heat and power from local, renewable wood fuel. This biomass demonstration project, the first of its kind in North America, will produce about 1.9 megawatts of electricity - enough to power approximately 1,600 homes. The project will also reduce UBC's greenhouse gas emissions by about 5,000 tonnes annually.
"This is an incredible example of partnership that helps establish British Columbia as a leader in the development of creative energy solutions," said Minister Yap. "The UBC project shows we can build momentum in the clean energy sector and create new economic activity while reducing the carbon footprint left by our public buildings."
"This project is an example of UBC's concept of the university as a living laboratory for research, action and leadership on global sustainability issues," said UBC President Stephen Toope. "With this crucial support from government, UBC will generate clean steam and electricity, provide valuable new knowledge for the clean energy sector and inform new global standards for bioenergy system performance."
The $11.2 million in federal–provincial funding is from Natural Resources Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada and the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Mines and Land.
Today's investment is just one example of the broad suite of policies and programs the Government of Canada has developed to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 - a target aligned with that of the United States.
For broadcast use:
The governments of Canada and B.C. are investing $11.2 million in a clean heat and power project at the University of British Columbia. The biomass demonstration project will produce about 1.9 megawatts of electricity, enough to power approximately 1,600 homes, and will reduce UBC's greenhouse gas emissions by about 5,000 tonnes annually.
Media may contact:
Richard Walker
Director of Communications, Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Telephone: 613-996-2007
Jerra Byrne
Office of the Minister
Western Economic Diversification Canada
WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Colin Grewar
Media Relations
BC Ministry of Environment
Telephone: 250-387-9630
Basil Waugh
Communications Coordinator
University of British Columbia
Telephone: 604-822-2048
For more information, the general public may contact:
Natural Resources Canada
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. EST
Telephone: 613-995-0947
TTY: 613-996-4397
E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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The Governments of Canada and British Columbia are making an investment in clean energy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions while helping to position innovative technologies at the forefront of the clean energy economy.
The biomass gasification technology at the University of British Columbia will be the first commercial demonstration in North America to feature an innovative renewable energy system that converts local, renewable wood fuel - in the form of wood chips, wood pellets and municipal tree trimmings - into energy to produce clean, efficient heat and power. Moreover, the building will be constructed using cross-laminated timber as the major building material.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is contributing a total of $8 million to the project through the Clean Energy Fund and $800,000 through the Large-Scale Wood Demonstration Initiative.
The Clean Energy Fund, part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan (Budget 2009), is investing $795 million over five years in research, development and demonstration projects to advance Canadian leadership in clean energy technologies. This investment includes large-scale carbon capture and storage demonstration projects as well as smaller-scale demonstration projects, such as biomass, geothermal and smart-grid renewable and alternative energy technologies.
NRCan's Large-Scale Wood Demonstration Initiative supports projects that showcase innovative wood products.
Western Economic Diversification Canada, and the BC Ministry of Forests, Mines and Lands are contributing a total of $2.4 million through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement.
Under the Western Economic Partnership Agreement, both Canada and B.C. are contributing $25 million each, over four years, to strengthen economic activity and improve quality of life in B.C. communities.
The BC Innovative Clean Energy Fund has also contributed a total of $4.5 million in funding for the project, as part of the Western Economic Partnership Agreement. This funding was previously announced in March, 2010.
