Minister's Tour Showcases Innovative Nova Scotia Cleantech Projects

Department of Environment

Published Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Leading edge businesses, municipalities and community organizations across Nova Scotia are turning to clean technology to address environmental challenges, save on costs and increase revenues.

Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau visited a number of forward-thinking South Shore organizations that are boosting their bottom line while being more environmentally responsible.

Quotes

“It is inspiring to see progressive businesses and municipalities embarking on clean technology projects. Many are already seeing the benefits, not only in terms of reduced impact on the environment, but also through cost savings and increased profits.” Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau

Quick Facts

• Clean technology, or cleantech, is new technology that helps to grow the economy while addressing energy and environmental challenges.
• The cleantech sector in Nova Scotia is creating good jobs, developing new products for the province and export, and helping Nova Scotia businesses become more globally competitive.
• By implementing cleantech, municipalities and community organizations can help the environment, reduce costs, and free up operating budgets for improved programs and services.
• Many of the projects are supported by ecoNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change.
• Some of the minister's municipal tour stops included: the Little People's Place Daycare in Shelburne (programmable thermostats); the Barrington Municipal Arena (a low-e reflective ceiling); Bridgewater town hall (solar panel site); District of Chester (hybrid vehicle).
• Mr. Belliveau also visited businesses developing clean technology products. ABCO produced North America's first sludge dewatering truck, which leaves only solids to be transported. Clearwater is piloting technology to capture waste heat to run refrigeration systems that freeze fish at sea, and Rainbow Net and Rigging, a commercial fishing product supply company, has developed a way to use solar technology to clean fishing nets.
• Over the past three years, the $42.5-million ecoNova Scotia Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change has funded more than 140 clean technology projects. By supporting projects that reduce greenhouse-gas and air-pollutant emissions, ecoNova Scotia is helping the province meet the objectives of the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act and the Climate Change Action Plan. For more information, visit www.novascotia.ca/ecoNovaScotia.
• Mr. Belliveau will visit more clean technology projects Oct. 12 in Halifax Regional Municipality.
• Following are the stops on the Environment Minister's Cleantech Project Tour:
  • Barrington Municipal Arena
  • Town of Shelburne
  • The Nodding Group, Bridgewater
  • Bridgewater Memorial Arena
  • Town of Bridgewater
  • ABCO, Lunenburg
  • Laughing Whale, Lunenburg
  • Clearwater, Lunenburg
  • Town of Lunenburg
  • Kaizer Meadow, District of Chester
  • Rainbow Net and Rigging, District of Chester

Media Contact

Becky Atkinson

Department of Environment

902-424-4422

Cell: 902-240-8805

E-mail: atkinsrj@gov.ns.ca