Canada - PM unveils ecoENERGY Renewable Initiative

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced more than $1.5 billion in funding for the ecoENERGY Renewable Initiative to boost Canada’s renewable energy supplies.

“There is no end to the potential of alternative, non-polluting energy sources,” the Prime Minister said. “The ecoEnergy Renewable Initiative will harness the power of our environment to help protect the environment for all Canadians.”

The Prime Minister was joined by the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources and the Honourable John Baird, the Minister of the Environment in announcing the Initiative today in Victoria.

The first component of the initiative, ecoENERGY for Renewable Power, will invest $1.48 billion to boost Canada’s supply of clean electricity from renewable sources like wind, biomass, small hydro and ocean energy. A ten-year incentive program will be established to fund eligible projects to be constructed over the next four years.

The second component, ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat, will provide more than $35 million incentives and industry support to increase the adoption of clean renewable thermal technologies for water and space heating in buildings such as solar air and hot water heating. In addition, projects for residential solar heating technologies will be explored with partners such as utilities and community organizations.

“The ecoENERGY Renewable Initiative is yet another example of real action our Government is taking to protect the health of Canadians and the environment,” said Minister Lunn. “It will help make renewable sources of heat and electricity a more affordable and realistic choice for more Canadians. We expect to add enough clean renewable electricity to power about one million homes.”

“The ecoENERGY Renewable Initiative complements the regulatory approach of our proposed Clean Air Act,” Minister Baird said. “It will deliver real results now to improve air quality in our communities and the health of Canadians by reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.”

This investment will create up to 4000 megawatts of renewable energy and is expected to deliver greenhouse gas emissions reductions equivalent to taking one million cars off the road, as well as significant reductions in other air pollutants. As such, it is an important part of the Government’s suite of ecoENERGY Initiatives to boost clean energy supplies, help Canadians use energy more efficiently and reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from conventional energy sources.