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Green Municipal Fund COmmits $50,000 To A Wind Study For The Village Of Belledune And Eel River Bar First Nation


WEBWIRE

Belledune, NB – President Karen Titus of the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB), representing the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, announced today a $50,000 Green Municipal Fund grant to help the Village of Belledune and its partner the Eel River Bar First Nation study the potential development of a 30 megawatt (MW) wind farm in a heavy industrial area of the Village. The project is the first of its kind in northern New Brunswick and will demonstrate the wind power potential of the area and showcase a community-based model for environmentally sustainable economic development.

“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said UMNB President Karen Titus, representing FCM. “The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”

“Canadians want to see real results. Through the Green Municipal Fund, Canada’s new government is helping municipalities across the country deliver results,” said Minister Lunn. “Through projects such as this, we are demonstrating our commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians.”

The scope of the project includes the development of a joint working agreement between the partners, a public awareness campaign on the benefits of renewable energy, a 12 month feasibility study on a 50 meter wind tower at a specific site, including a technical analysis and a market analysis.

“The 30 MW wind farm is intended to be a grid connected system with the power sold to New Brunswick Power via a power purchase agreement,” said Mayor Nick Duivenvoorden. “If the feasibility study demonstrates positive results, a full business plan will be prepared. Based on a 31 per cent capacity factor, we estimate that a 30 MW wind farm would have an annual electricity production of 81,468 MW hours and would reduce greenhouse gas emissions per year by 67,618 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.”

The Government of Canada has endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $550 million to establish and manage the Green Municipal Fund. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.

FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters sustainable communities enjoying a high quality of life by promoting strong, effective, and accountable municipal government.



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