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Kimberley firm one of 12 in province to tap into $8 million fund
EcoSmart Foundation of Kimberley will be receiving $1 million from an $8 million provincial fund designed to support the development of new clean energy technologies.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced July 23 that the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund will be providing $8 million to a dozen provincial entrepreneurs and firms.
EcoSmart Foundation is proposing to create the first B.C. installation of a grid-connected solar power plant on a brownfield mine site. It will also show how solar tracking technology can be adapted for northern climates.
“These twelve new ICE Fund projects bring 475 jobs and almost $79 million in investment to B.C. communities, creating a strong green economy for all British Columbians. For example, the Tsay Keh Dene First Nation is producing heat from wood waste, a clean energy solution for this diesel-based and the EcoSmart Foundation is installing the first B.C. grid-connected solar plant on a brownfield mine site,” stated Rich Coleman, Minister of Energy and Mines.
A ministry press release notes the ICE Fund helps B.C. entrepreneurs, communities and First Nations demonstrate the viability of their pre-commercial clean technologies to investors and customers worldwide. Since 2008, 56 projects have been approved and are receiving funding to develop new energy solutions to real, everyday energy and environmental challenges. This includes solutions like biomass gasification to produce biogas, which is a clean heating alternative to fossil fuels.
These 12 B.C. entrepreneurs, communities and First Nations will invest about $71 million in their projects. With government’s support of $8 million, this brings the total investment in green innovation to $79 million.
The ministry is hoping the projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 87,782 tonnes per year – the equivalent of taking 17,212 passenger vehicles off of the road.
Since 2008, the province has approved more than $72 million for 56 clean energy projects across B.C., representing a value over $390 million in total project costs through the ICE Fund.
So far, 12 ICE Fund projects are complete and have created 271 construction jobs and 103 ongoing jobs.
To learn more about the ICE Fund, visit: www.icefund.gov.bc.ca.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
