Natural Resources Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) announced an investment of $223,750 through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve the quality of water and energy efficiency in cities and communities in Eastern Ontario.
“Local green solutions create jobs, lower emissions and build a more prosperous and sustainable economy for all. This is how we get to net-zero by 2050,” stated Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources
The City of Ottawa will undertake the following two feasibility studies:
- The Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC) will identify approaches to optimize the production and benefits of digesters gas at the wastewater treatment facility. ROPEC treats an average of 415 million litres of wastewater each day and, as part of the treatment process, it produces biogas through anaerobic digestion. The biogas is used as a fuel source for co‑generation and the boiler plant that produces electricity and thermal energy used on site. GMF is funding $82,450 for the study.
- The City of Ottawa also obtained $83,000 from GMF to study the waste heat recovery potential of its wastewater collection system. The results of the study are expected to be applicable to other municipalities transitioning to more sustainable heating options.
The Township of Montague has obtained $25,000 in funding to evaluate options for redesigning or replacing the town’s administration building, fire hall and public works building, all of which were built in the 1970s and in need of renovations. It will examine the energy, financial and social benefits of retrofit measures aimed at increasing energy efficiency and improving safety and accessibility.
With $33,300 in GMF funding, the Township of Central Frontenac will study the feasibility of redeveloping a former school site on communal water and wastewater servicing, a less expensive alternative to centralize municipal services and a more environmentally friendly alternative to private onsite services. Benefits include reduced urban sprawl and smaller development footprints; greater climate change resilience; recycling systems to reduce water consumption and reuse of gray water; and treatment of 10,000 to 15,000 litres a day of wastewater.
These initiatives are one-way GMF continues to build on its 20-year record of supporting transformative environmental initiatives at the community level. The Government of Canada has invested $1.65 billion in GMF since its inception, enabling municipalities to support projects like these that leverage local resources to drive innovative solutions.
“Our cities and communities influence half of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions,” added FCM president, Joanne Vanderheyden. “That means local action is critical. With support from the Green Municipal Fund, this is happening: municipalities of all sizes are implementing smart low-carbon solutions. Empowering this local expertise is vital to meeting Canada’s climate goals. When orders of government work together to reduce emissions, we’re building more resilient communities.”
Featured image: The Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC).
