Announcing Funding to Improve Energy Efficiency in Ontario's Industrial Facilities

TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Investments in energy-saving programs are essential to help industries and workers build a more prosperous and sustainable future. The Government of Canada is committed to innovative energy management solutions for industry partners across the country.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a federal investment of nearly $20 million to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) from the Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP). This funding will support the extension of IESO's Strategic Energy Management Program.

NRCan has invested in this initiative to help IESO support industrial facilities across four areas:

• Energy practitioners
• Energy managers
• Energy management systems
• Strategic energy management

Investments like these are key to reducing emissions, maximizing energy performance and increasing energy industry competitiveness in Canada.

Quotes

"Supporting Canadian industry with energy efficiency targets is necessary if we want to improve our competitiveness in a growing global economy where the demand for energy is increasing while ultimately achieving our emissions reduction targets. The Independent Electricity System Operator's Strategic Energy Management Program will reduce energy costs and environmental impacts in Ontario, creating more efficient and less expensive green power. By supporting programs like IESO's, the federal government is playing a key role in the modernization and improvement of energy systems for Canadians from coast to coast to coast."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

"Energy efficiency means cost savings for Canadian business. Supporting Canadian industrial facilities with their efficiency targets is a necessary step toward improving competitiveness in the global economy. We are pleased to play a part in IESO's Strategic Energy Management Program through an investment of nearly $20 million that will help deliver more efficient, reliable and cost-saving electricity for Ontarians."

Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Member of Parliament for Toronto–Danforth

"As demand for electricity grows in the industrial sector, this funding from Natural Resources Canada will enable the IESO to expand and enhance our energy management solutions. These programs help ensure that Ontario's industrial facilities remain efficient and competitive while keeping our system affordable and reliable."

Lesley Gallinger
President and CEO, the IESO

Quick facts

• Canada's industrial sectors represented about 3,650 PJ — or more than 40 percent — of Canada's total energy use in 2021.
• Funding for this program originates in investments from Budget 2022, which included $194 million over five years, starting in 2022–2023, for NRCan to expand its existing Industrial Energy Management program by offering cost-shared financial support for a holistic and comprehensive suite of energy efficiency measures up to March 2027.
• Designed by Save on Energy — IESO's source for energy-efficiency opportunities and knowledge in Ontario — the Strategic Energy Management Program will help organizations improve their energy performance by implementing best practices for more energy and cost savings.
• The Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program is an expansion of NRCan's Industrial Energy Management Program and provides support for the implementation of energy management systems, capital retrofits and related capacity-building activities.

Related Information

• Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program
• Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Contacts: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [email protected]; Cindy Caturao, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, 613-795-5638, [email protected]