New Funding for Green Energy Initiatives to Greenbelt Farmers on eve of
Copenhagen talks

TORONTO , Nov. 18 /CNW/ - Farmers on the Greenbelt can now do more than produce healthy, local food: they can do their part to reduce emissions. Thanks to the Greenbelt Green Energy Program for Agriculture, growers and producers located on the greenbelt will receive financial support for green energy generation and conservation measures, energy audits and more.

"Farmers traditionally produce energy for our bodies," said Burkhard Mausberg, President of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation." Now they can also produce energy for our lights. The upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen will be about how we need to go farther and do more. With this program, Greenbelt growers are stepping up to the plate early. The Foundation is proud to fund such a pragmatic and meaningful emissions reduction effort."

The program falls on the heels of the Ontario government's recently passed Green Energy Act which strives to dramatically increase green energy generation and ramp up conservation efforts. Many Ontarians are familiar with existing rebates for residential retrofits and upgrades. This program applies the same principles to the agricultural setting.

The Foundation is contributing up to 25% of the cost for Farm Energy Audits, insulation, heating, cooling, lighting and machinery upgrades and installation of wind, solar, geo-thermal, biomass and biogas systems and equipment. This 25% will be in addition to amounts available through the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program.

Farms located within Ontario's Greenbelt that satisfy eligibility requirements can readily access funds.

The program is funded jointly by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, the Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan and the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program and is delivered to agricultural producers by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association.

For details visit http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/en/greenbeltgreenenergyprogram.htm

For further information: Jennifer Story at [phone] or by cell at [phone] or by email at [email protected]