Local residents get inside look into the construction of the community's new district heating system

TIGNISH, PEI, July 14, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island are making infrastructure investments that will help create jobs, grow the middle class, and support a high standard of living for Canadians and their families.

Today, Bobby Morrissey, Member of Parliament for Egmont, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Paula Biggar, Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy, attended a community information event that offered a behind-the-scenes look into the Tignish District Heating Project.

Residents were treated to a tour of the under-construction heating system that will use a hot water boiler, fueled by wood chips, along with underground piping, valves, heat exchangers and energy meters to generate and deliver heat for ten commercial buildings in the Tignish core. 

This ground-breaking project is the first of its kind on Prince Edward Island, reducing the region's carbon footprint by using locally sourced renewable energy fuel instead of oil. It will also contribute to ongoing efforts to build a cleaner energy supply that generates sustainable economic development for the community as a whole.

Quotes

"Investments in green infrastructure will help protect communities and support Canada's ongoing transition to a clean, sustainable growth economy that will benefit Islanders for generations to come. I am excited to see that Tignish is taking the lead on implementing greener technologies that will foster economic growth by supporting job creation and reducing energy costs for residents and businesses."

Bobby Morrissey, Member of Parliament for Egmont, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Biomass facilities in our province reduce greenhouse gas emission by displacing 2.6 million litres of fossil fuels per year. The government of Prince Edward Island's commitment to using sustainably sourced renewable energy will reduce our carbon output, limit our exposure to rising and falling energy prices, and encourage local economic activity."

The Honourable Paula Biggar, Minister of Transportation, Energy

"Our Board is very pleased with the cooperation and support for this project within the community.  It's exciting to develop a project that supports community businesses, economic opportunities and that is positive for our environment."

Anne Arsenault, CEO and General Manager of Tignish Initiatives

Quick facts

• The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island announced a joint contribution of up to $752,540 to this project through the Small Communities Fund on April 4, 2016, representing two-thirds of the estimated $1,128,810 total project cost. The remainder of the costs will be provided by Tignish Initiatives Corporation.
• Tignish Initiatives Corporation will finance one-third of the capital costs and will own and operate the facility. The general contractor, Wood4Heating Canada is responsible for the construction and commissioning of the system under the direction of Bay Winds Consulting, the project manager.
• The system will include a new boiler house near the rear of the Heritage Inn and an underground hot water piping network coupled together with a state-of-the-art control system.
• The system will utilize European and Canadian technology to heat water in a central plant with locally sourced wood chips which will heat local commercial buildings. Approximately 500 tonnes of locally harvested wood chips will replace 200,000 litres of furnace oil each heating season.  
• The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• $21.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• These investments complement the Atlantic Growth Strategy, a 2-year federal-provincial action plan aimed at stimulating economic growth in the region through five priority areas:
• Skilled workforce/Immigration;
• Innovation;
• Clean growth and climate change;
• Trade and investment;
• Infrastructure.

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html#Toc477707375

Federal infrastructure investments in Prince Edward Island: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/pe-eng.html

New Building Canada Fund: Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component—Small Communities Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/sc-cp-eng.html

Atlantic Growth Strategy: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/ags-sca/Eng/atlantic-growth.html.

Twitter: @INFC_eng

Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149, [email protected]; Ron Ryder, Senior Communications Officer, Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy, 902-368-5112, [email protected]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Anne Arsenault, CEO and General Manager, Tignish Initiatives Corporation, [email protected], [phone]; Bill Drost, Professional Engineer, Bay Winds Consulting, Project Manager for Tignish Initiatives, [email protected], [phone]

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/