Canada Invests in New Glasgow Renewable Energy System

Across the country, Canadians are feeling the impacts of climate change. The government of Canada is working with municipalities and industry to implement climate solutions. By investing in renewable energy initiatives that support energy independence and economic development while lowering GHG emissions, we can keep our air clean and build strong, healthy communities for everyone to call home.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a $515,000 investment in TorchLight Bioresources to study a district energy system—a heat network—that would connect over 90 percent of the buildings in the community and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and heating costs for Canadians in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

The feasibility study will design a heat network that uses renewable biomass and wind energy supplies, helping to create new jobs, support sustainable Nova Scotian forestry and grow the local economy.

Biomass is proven to be a low-cost renewable fuel in many heating applications, supplying energy when and where it is needed. District energy systems are a safer, more reliable way to heat buildings and have proven to be essential to the decarbonization of similar northern countries, such as Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

The Town of New Glasgow, TorchLight Bioresources, Rathco, the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners and ACFOR are also contributing to the project, bringing the total investment to $755,000.

Federal funding for this project is provided by Natural Resources Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways (SREPs) program, a four-year, $964-million program that provides support for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects. This program will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enabling increased renewable energy capacity that will provide essential grid services while supporting Canada’s ongoing transition to a net-zero economy by 2050 as well as Canada’s commitment to achieving a 100-percent net-zero-emitting electricity system by 2035.

Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy ensures Canada will remain a world leader in clean power. In Budget 2022, Canada committed to investing an additional $600 million over five years to the SREPs program to continue to support renewable electricity and grid modernization projects.