January 17, 2007

OTTAWA – The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced the ecoENERGY Technology Initiative—a $230-million investment in the research, development and demonstration of clean-energy technologies.

“Canada is an emerging energy superpower,” said Minister Lunn. “But our real challenge is to be a clean-energy superpower. To do this, we must address the fact that the greatest source of untapped energy is the energy we waste. We must also increase our use of renewable energy and develop the science and technology to make conventional energy cleaner.”

“As part of our environmental agenda, Canada's New Government is introducing this important initiative to protect Canadians' top priority—the environment—while building a competitive and sustainable economy,” said Minister Baird.

While Canada's Clean Air Act forms the backbone of the government's environmental plan, the ecoENERGY Technology Initiative will foster the next generation of clean technologies to break through to emissions-free energy production and energy use.

The $230-million ecoENERGY Technology Initiative will accelerate the development and market-readiness of technology solutions in clean energy.
It will ensure that Canadians and future generations have clean air, water, land and energy. This is real change for real results.

“Canada's New Government encourages industry and the provinces to further invest in science and technology to deliver real results for the production of clean energy,” said Minister Lunn.

The new Initiative is a focused, integrated approach built on key priorities that include carbon dioxide sequestration, clean coal, clean oil sands production and renewable energy. Priorities will be further developed with provinces and industry partners through consultations.

Backgrounders

• The CANMET Energy Technology Centre (CETC) Ottawa (Bells Corners), Ontario
• Clean-Energy Science and Technology (S&T) - The Government commitment to energy science and technology