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Natural Resources
March 31, 2009

Energy Efficiency Initiatives for Labrador Communities Moving Forward

Representatives of the Energy Efficiency Community Pilot Project being undertaken in Port Hope Simpson and Hopedale will be in the two communities this week to meet with town councils and potential partners and to arrange details for the community-level outreach portion of the program.

The pilot project, being undertaken by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) on behalf of the Provincial Government, will explore conservation and efficiency opportunities in the two coastal Labrador communities. The project, originally announced in October, is designed specifically for communities reliant on diesel generation.

"The contract for the project management and communications services component of the program has now been awarded and representatives will be in the two communities to hire an administrator and up to three people per community for a short-term period to conduct energy efficiency walkthroughs," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources. "The scope of the residential and commercial energy walkthroughs is now being finalized with the assistance of Green Communities Canada, a leader in community-based energy efficiency program delivery. We look forward to the successful launch of this program."

Hydro and the Conservation Corps of Newfoundland Labrador, the successful bidder for the project management of the program, are currently finalizing the strategy for this project and are including mechanisms for the involvement of people in the community in the development and delivery of the community outreach efforts that will launch the project.

A list of eligible Labrador coastal communities was developed based on criteria including current annual load and forecast growth. Communities were invited to apply to participate in the project. Hopedale and Port Hope Simpson were selected as the two successful communities.

Hydro is also conducting an alternative energy study in seven of Labrador�s coastal communities � Cartwright, Charlottetown, Hopedale, Makkovik, Mary�s Harbour, Nain and Port Hope Simpson. This study will determine alternative energy options for these communities to complement existing diesel generation systems, including the potential for solar, wind and small-scale hydroelectric developments.

Installation of the required monitoring equipment has already begun and will coincide with regular maintenance visits to the communities. The equipment will confirm wind, solar and rainfall levels.

"The results of this study will help us maximize our resource potential in Labrador�s coastal communities," said Minister Dunderdale. "We will be able to find out the potential costs associated with harnessing this energy."

The Provincial Government is allocating $500,000 to these two projects.

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Media contact:
Tracy Barron
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 690-8241
tracybarron@gov.nl.ca

2009 03 31                                                   11:15 a.m.
 


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