News release

Environmental Technologies Supported

Environment and Labour (Oct. 2000 - March 2008)

Nova Scotian innovations that reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants will be eligible for funding from a $9.5-million program.

Businesses, institutions, and organizations that can demonstrate commercially viable environmental proposals will benefit from the Ecotrust Environmental Technology Program for Clean Air and Climate Change.

"We are funding Nova Scotian solutions to our climate change and air pollution challenges," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment and Labour, at an announcement at Province House today, Nov. 21. "We want our province known internationally for its environmental technologies -- just as our solid waste recycling system has achieved a global reputation."

Nova Scotia's Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act commits to major cuts to air pollutants by 2010 and to significant reductions in greenhouse gas.

"By 2020, Nova Scotia will cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 10 per cent below 1990 levels," said Energy Minister Richard Hurlburt. "That's an aggressive goal. We need creative, practical, made-in-Nova Scotia ideas to get there -- exactly the kind of ideas our Ecotrust is designed to support."

The program supports the development, demonstration, adoption and commercialization of environmental technologies. Technology developed in Nova Scotia will play an important role in achieving those goals.

"This program can be the tipping point to success for a lot of great innovation," said Ray Ritcey, president of Heritage Gas. "Nova Scotia has a lot of talent in the environmental technology sector, and this program is a boost to the industry."

The funding for the program is derived from Nova Scotia's portion of the Canada EcoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.

The program will fund a maximum of 50 per cent of project costs.

"This will greatly help universities creating environmental technology products, some of which will be developed through Nova Scotia's new Environmental Engineering Research Centre announced by the minister earlier today," said Russell Boyd, associate vice-president, research, Dalhousie University.

To apply, or for more information, see www.gov.ns.ca/ecotrust or contact the fund co-ordinator at ecotrust@gov.ns.ca or 902-424-8269.

The first deadline for project applications is Jan. 31, 2008. Subsequent deadlines will follow every three months until the final deadline of Jan. 31, 2010.