Environment and Conservation
November 10, 2009
Wind
Turbines Fuel Environmental Awareness
The Brother Brennan
Environmental Education Centre now boasts two new wind
turbines to power its teaching facility near Deer Park.
With assistance of $192,000 from the Newfoundland and
Labrador Green Fund, turbines were installed which
generate six kilowatts of power and replace the diesel
electricity generation formerly used at the site. The
project was officially launched today at an event at the
centre.
�This centre provides an
exceptional public service with the environmental
educational programs offered for youth in the province,�
said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of
Environment and Conservation. �By replacing the diesel
generator with a wind turbine system, the Brother
Brennan Environmental Education Centre is both reducing
greenhouse gases and demonstrating environmental
leadership to the young people who use this facility
every year. It is leading by example at its finest.�
The wind powered energy
system eliminates the need for diesel fuel, thereby
reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the
centre. In 2007, approximately 7,000 litres of diesel
was consumed which represents about 20 tonnes of GHGs.
The turbines also eliminate the noise and other air
pollution that is associated with diesel generation.
�It is important for
students to experience an energy model like this one,
learn from it, and be able to emulate it in their future
undertakings,� said the Honourable Felix Collins, MHA
for Placentia-St. Mary�s. �The main objective of this
centre is to educate students on sound environmental
practices, and it is fitting that these environmentally
friendly turbines are now the main energy source on
which the facility operates.�
Governed by a board of
directors known as the Environmental Education
Commission, the centre is a volunteer based, non-profit
centre which provides environmental education
opportunities to school children in partnership with the
Eastern School Board. Each year, approximately 2,000
students participate in programs designed to develop
environmental awareness and enhance personal and social
responsibilities for environmental action.
�The project allows the
centre to use a more sustainable energy source, and
sustainability is at the forefront of all of our
environmental teaching,� said Vince McDonald,
secretary/treasurer of the Environmental Education
Commission. �The money from the Newfoundland and
Labrador Green Fund was instrumental in helping us
install the turbines, and they show students how this
clean energy source can help us achieve so many of the
goals to which we aspire at the centre.�
The Newfoundland and
Labrador Green Fund is a three-year, $25 million program
which is supported by both the Federal and Provincial
Governments. This funding is to support projects geared
toward environmental sustainability and which provide
real reductions in GHG emissions.
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Media contacts:
Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca |
Marg Craniford
Constituency Assistant
Hon. Felix Collins, MHA Placentia-St. Mary�s
709-729-6926
margcraniford@gov.nl.ca
|
Vincent McDonald
Secretary/Treasurer
Environmental Education Commission
709-753-1106
vincemc@nf.aibn.ca |
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2009 11 10
3:10 p.m.
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