Canada launches "ecoEnergy Technology Initiative"

Canadian politicians today announced a $230-million CDN program to accelerate the research, development and demonstration of clean energy technologies.

Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, and John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced the ecoEnergy Technology Initiative in the nation's capital Ottawa.

"Canada is an emerging energy superpower," said Minister Lunn. "But our real challenge is to be a clean-energy superpower. To do this, we must address the fact that the greatest source of untapped energy is the energy we waste. We must also increase our use of renewable energy and develop the science and technology to make conventional energy cleaner."

Politicians said Canada's newly-elected government is introducing this initiative to reflect what polls have shown is now Canadians' top priority: the environment.

While Canada's Clean Air Act forms the backbone of the government's environmental plan, the ecoEnergy Technology Initiative is specifically to foster clean technologies to help reach emissions-free energy production and energy use.

The fund is to accelerate the development and market-readiness of technology solutions in clean energy. It will "ensure that Canadians and future generations have clean air, water, land and energy," officials said.

Among the technologies that will be assisted by the program will be carbon dioxide sequestration, clean coal, clean oil sands production and renewable energy. Priorities will be further developed with provinces and industry partners through consultations, the government said.

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