News release

Municipal Green Energy Projects Funded

Environment (April 2008 - Feb. 2021)

Six municipal projects that will improve Nova Scotia's environment, boost the economy, and enhance community life will receive funding from the Nova Scotia Eco-trust for Clean Air and Climate Change.

The Eco-trust will contribute $1,649,167 to municipal projects that include plans to convert a municipal swimming pool to solar-heated water, recover heat energy from arenas' ice-producing equipment and heat a municipal building from natural underground sources.

"We are working with municipalities and others to help fight climate change and to make our air cleaner," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment, today, May 9. "These projects will help the province meet its environmental and economic commitments, which include reducing greenhouse gases by 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020."

The energy-saving projects are expected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 2,186 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking 400 cars off the road.

Air pollutants, including sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, will be reduced by almost 4,000 kilograms per year.

"We welcome the province's support as municipalities work to reduce or recover their energy output," said Robert Wrye, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "We are doing our part to help protect the environment while enhancing business and community facilities."

The province's Eco-trust program has a component for eligible municipal projects that contribute to energy efficiencies. Nine municipalities received $68,521 under this program last week to conduct energy audits that will help plan ways to reduce energy waste.

The six eligible projects announced today under the Nova Scotia Eco-Trust's municipal program are:

Municipality of the District of Yarmouth

  • Energy efficient and renewable energy technologies will be incorporated in a new administration building. Expected emissions reductions per year: 244 tonnes of greenhouse gases, 507 kilograms of sulphur dioxide.

Town of New Glasgow

  • Energy upgrades at the municipal arena, community centres, town hall, and the fire hall/library building. Expected to cut greenhouse gases by 148 tonnes per year.

  • Energy program for local businesses, including on-site energy-efficiency consultations and a classroom workshop. Expected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 84.2 tonnes per year.

Halifax Regional Municipality

  • Switch to solar energy to heat a city swimming pool. Expected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 99 tonnes per year.

  • An energy retrofit of the Sackville Sports Stadium complex. Expected to reduce emissions annually by 1,104 tonnes of greenhouse gases, 1,486 kilograms of sulphur dioxide and 32 kilograms of nitrogen oxides.

  • An energy retrofit of the Metro Transit building. Expected emissions reductions per year: 507 tonnes of greenhouse gases, 1,035 kilograms of sulphur dioxide and six kilograms of nitrogen oxides.

The province's $7.5-million Eco-trust program for municipal projects was launched last November with funding from the government of Canada. Applications for funding are invited every three months and will be accepted until 2010. The next deadline for applications is July 31.

Potential applicants should contact the province's EcoTrust co-ordinator. Submitted proposals are reviewed and recommended by an interdepartmental review panel with expertise in energy efficiency, renewable energy, community development and economic development.

To apply for funding under the program, or for more information, visit www.gov.ns.ca/ecotrust .