NEIA and FCM Help Six Municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador Transition to a Cleaner Future

The Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA), through funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and partnership with Fundamental Inc., has helped Baie Verte, Bauline, Channel-Port aux Basques, Paradise, Stephenville, and Torbay pursue clean growth projects in pursuit of a greener future.

The program brought the participating municipalities through a three-step process, with the guidance of Fundamental Inc. First municipalities measured their contribution to climate change by quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from their operations. Second, the municipalities developed an action plan to mitigate their contribution to climate change. Finally, projects were undertaken in each municipality to kick off their climate action plans:

In Baie Verte a 12.32kW solar PV array was installed at the Town’s Fire Hall in October utilizing the province’s net metering program;
In Bauline a 15.4kW solar PV array was installed at the Town’s Community Centre and Town Hall in October utilizing the province’s net metering program;
In Channel-Port Aux Basques a roof retrofit for the Town’s Public Works building will take place to increase energy efficiency, and soil testing is being undertaken at a potential brownfield re-development to understand the feasibility of using innovative bioremediation techniques;
In Paradise solar street lamps will be installed for the recreation area and parking lot adjacent to the Paradise Double Ice Complex which also serves as the Town’s emergency warming station;
In Stephenville a community-scale industrial composter has been purchased to facilitate composting within the Town; and
In Torbay a 13.86kW solar PV array was installed at the Town Hall in October utilizing the province’s net metering program.

As participants in the program, the six municipalities have undertaken commitments to emissions reductions through peer learning, strategic planning and operational implementation, while leveraging lessons learned from communities across Canada facing similar challenges.

NEIA is one of thirteen organizations across Canada that was selected to help build a network of communities and support them as they develop long-term plans and projects contributing to a low carbon transition by 2050 in alignment with the target date as set out by the Paris Agreement. NEIA is a not-for-profit association of businesses that promotes the development of clean technology and the growth of the green economy in Newfoundland and Labrador. NEIA has over 200 members. More information can be found at www.neia.org.

The initiative was offered through the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. This initiative has contributed to the FCM-ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program to help municipalities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take action on climate change. PCP is a partnership between FCM and ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability.

QUOTES

“NEIA was pleased to have been able to attract $500,000 worth of investment for six municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Each of these projects increased the resiliency of municipal operations, decreased their contribution to climate change, and are indicative of the economic growth opportunities associated with the energy transition in our province.”

– Kieran Hanley, Executive Director | NEIA

“Municipalities influence half of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, making local action critical to reaching national targets. I’m proud to see local leaders across Canada continue to work together to build capacity and take action on climate.”

– Garth Frizzell, President | Federation of Canadian Municipalities

“Participating in this program has allowed the Town of Baie Verte to take a small step towards a greener future. The installation of solar panels at our Fire Hall will allow us to lower our energy consumption and see savings in energy costs. This program has opened our eyes to how even the smallest of changes can have a big impact on climate change and we are committed to making changes that will hopefully contribute to a low carbon transition by 2050. I would highly recommend that other municipalities take advantage of similar initiatives if given the opportunity.”

– Amanda Humby, Chief Administrative Officer | Town of Baie Verte

“We are extremely fortunate to have funding assistance from the FCM, and technical and philosophical support from the Province’s Environmental Industry Association, in putting together Bauline’s Green Energy Strategy and participating in this collective energy project with towns across the province. Our long-term plan not only sees the Town generating its own electrical energy needs over the next few years, but it incorporates a viable Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan about which we are very proud. For the smallest town on the north-east Avalon to be able to embark on these kinds of initiatives is a testament to the community, its residents and the organisation’s offering support. In particular, we are indebted to our advisers, Fundamental Inc of Harbour Main, who have kept us on a straight, but purposeful path to energy self-reliance. Our grateful thanks also to the FCM, NEIA and partnering towns.”

– Craig Drover, Town Manager | Bauline

“The Town wishes to thank NEIA and FCM for the opportunity to participate in the T2050 project. The funding received to date will provide major upgrades to our facility and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The long-term planning that has been developed will guide us in accomplishing our carbon emission reduction targets. It is through the hard work of everyone involved that our efforts on Climate Change initiatives are made possible.”

– Leon MacIsaac, Town Manager | Town of Channel – Port Aux Basques

“The Town of Paradise was pleased to be selected for this initiative and it’s great to see a green project completed in our Town. Environmental Stewardship is a guiding pillar in our strategic plan and we are committed to working towards a carbon neutral footprint. This project will help us achieve this goal. We thank NEIA and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for implementing this initiative, and for their guidance and support to municipalities as we work together to address climate change.”

– Mayor Dan Bobbett | Town of Paradise

“Through the Partnership for Climate Protection initiative The Town of Stephenville has been able to achieve a much clearer understanding of our true impact on climate change. Through networking with all participants and partners in this initiative we have been able to determine the value of approaching our future with a strong appreciation for the need for change. As a result of this, we have identified several key projects which will help us reach our goals to decrease our impact on the environment. The forefront of these will be to develop a community composting program which we hope will decrease our solid waste generation significantly. We wish to thank everyone involved for the opportunity to participate and look forward to future co-operations.”

– Ted Gracie, Director of Municipal Services | Town of Stephenville

“The Town of Torbay is so pleased to be working with Fundamental Inc. and have the support of FCM and NEIA in our efforts to become more energy efficient while working to mitigate and adapt to climate change. As a result of these partnerships we have installed solar panels to assist with the energy needs of Town Hall, have created a greenhouse gas inventory, and have a workable plan to become carbon neutral by 2050!”

– Mayor Craig Scott | Town of Torbay

“Working with the partner municipalities to develop transition pathways to a climate positive future has been a very rewarding experience. The commitment of each community and their combined desire to take action on climate change is commendable and energizing. Fundamental Inc is honoured to have been involved in developing for each Town a carbon emissions inventory, setting emissions reduction targets, developing a local climate action plan, and most excitingly, facilitating the implementation of each Town’s first climate action project.”

– Ashley Smith, Owner and Managing Director | Fundamental Inc.

Media Contact:

Kieran Hanley, Executive Director NEIA