CHARLOTTETOWN,
Nov. 18, 2005 – The Governments of Canada and Prince Edward
Island today announced that they will work in partnership
with a private sector partner on a project that will help
PEI maximize its renewable energy resources, and result
in real and concrete reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
Participating in the announcement were the Honourable
Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment; the
Honourable Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island;
the Honourable Jamie Ballem, PEI Minister of Environment,
Energy and Forestry; the Honourable Shawn Murphy, M.P.
for Charlottetown; and John Gaudet, Vice President Corporate
Planning and Energy Supply, with Maritime Electric Company
Ltd.
The upgrade to the electricity transmission system between
PEI and New Brunswick, and on PEI is the first project
under the Partnership Fund – a major initiative of Canada’s
Climate Change Plan. The overall project cost is estimated
at approximately $60 million. The federal share of the
funding could be up to $30 million. Details of the cost
sharing arrangements will be worked out over the coming
weeks among the partners.
“Provinces and territories, Aboriginal peoples, industry,
environmental groups and all Canadians have a fundamental
role to play in achieving our climate change goals,” said
Minister Dion. “I am looking forward to more announcements
and more projects from across Canada and engaging more
partners since we all share the goal of reducing greenhouse
gas emissions for the benefit of our environment, our
health and our economy.”
"Prince Edward Island is one of Canada's leaders
in wind energy," said Minister John McCallum, Minister
of Natural Resources Canada. "This project will enhance
the province's ability to use its wind resources, and
reflects the Government of Canada's commitment to work
in partnership to develop and use cleaner, alternative
sources of energy."
Prince Edward Island has a target of achieving 15% of
its electricity from renewables by 2010. This represents
a requirement to install approximately 60 megawatts of
wind capacity by that date. With today’s announcement,
the Province is committed to work with the private sector
developers to establish at least 200 megawatts of wind
power capacity by the year 2010. That compares to PEI’s
peak demand of 210 megawatts of electricity and will result
in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of about 500,000
tonnes per year.
"Prince Edward Island is committed to being a national
leader in renewable energy," said Premier Binns.
"Enhancing the role of renewable energy in our provincial
energy mix not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions which
contribute to climate change, it allows PEI to take charge
of our energy future by reducing our reliance on imported
fossil fuels."
"Prince Edward Island is already seeing the impact
of climate change so Islanders understand that we must
take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,"
added Minister Ballem. "The Province is committed
to continuing to work in cooperation with the federal
government and Island businesses and residents to do our
part to meet our climate change objectives."
“The federal contribution to this project will involve
upgrading the electricity transmission system between
PEI and New Brunswick to allow the province to fully develop
its wind potential” said Shawn Murphy, M.P. for Charlottetown.
"Maritime Electric is pleased to be a partner on
the Transmission System Upgrade Project for Climate Change,"
said John Gaudet Vice President Corporate Planning and
Energy Supply. "Maritime Electric has signed an MOU
with the Province of Prince Edward and will be responsible
for the project management of the interconnection upgrade.
In conjunction with the Province of PEI, the company has
developed a plan to accommodate large scale wind development
on PEI. We believe this to be a good example of a public
private partnership."
The project builds on the Memorandum of Understanding
on climate change signed by the Government of Canada and
the Province of PEI. The federal contribution to this
project is anticipated to come from the Partnership Fund,
the key mechanism for federal-provincial collaboration
in Canada’s Climate Change Plan. The $250M Partnership
Fund announced as part of Budget 2005 is expected to grow
to $2 to $3 billion over the next few years as more and
more projects are brought forward that will bring about
the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55-85
megatonnes by 2012.
Cost-shared investments could be allocated
in three broad areas: a) deploying strategic new technologies
and energy-related infrastructure, b) creating near- term
emission reductions (i.e., in the 2008 to 2012 period);
and c) engaging Canadians in personal emissions reductions.
The Partnership Fund is a major initiative of the updated
climate change plan, Moving Forward on Climate Change:
A Plan for Honouring our Kyoto Commitment. The plan is
an initiative of Project Green, a set of policies and
programs aimed at supporting a sustainable environment,
healthy population and competitive economy. Project Green
addresses environmental and competitiveness issues for
the 21st century including measures to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. In order to increase fuel and energy efficiency
and to increase Canadian and foreign markets for environment,
technologies can drive our economy and protect our environment
and health.
The Partnership Fund includes and expands on previous
efforts to work with provinces and territories on climate
change action, including the Opportunities Envelope and
Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with provinces and territories
for cooperation on addressing climate change.
A major co-benefit of the measures to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions will be reductions of other pollutants.
The updated climate change plan is ensuring cleaner air
across Canada and an improvement in Canadians’ quality
of life and health.
More information on Canada’s updated climate change plan,
Moving Forward on Climate Change: A Plan for Honouring
our Kyoto Commitment, can be found at: http://www.climatechange.gc.ca
Canada will host the world from November 28 to December
9 at Montreal 2005: United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Minister Dion will be President of the Conference for
a one-year period from November 28, 2005, and as such
will serve as Chair of Montréal 2005. Details at
www.montreal2005.gc.ca. |