For Immediate Release
2003-02-05
For further information contact:
Kevin Riley, Utilities Kingston Manager, Treatment Group, 613-546-1181 ext. 2224
UTILITIES AWARDED $40,000 TO IMPROVE MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE
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RELATED LINKS
GREEN MUNICIPAL FUNDS
More information about the Green Municipal Funds is available on the FCM Web site.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Also, visit the Government of Canada climate change Web site for more information about the Green Municipal Funds.
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Utilities Kingston will be taking steps to strengthen environmental practices, thanks to funding of $40,000 from the Green Municipal Funds (GMF) for a study on electric cogeneration using methane gas produced at the Kingston West Water Pollution Control Plant. Kingston Mayor Isabel Turner, the Honourable Peter Milliken, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, and Alderman John Schmal, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), announced the project today.
"The study's goal is to use methane gas from sewage produced at the pollution control plant to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Mayor Turner. "The support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Government of Canada gives us with the opportunity to investigate innovative processes that are environmentally responsible ways to manage waste."
The Government of Canada has endowed $250 million to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to establish and manage the GMF. The Funds began operating in 2000 to stimulate environmental projects launched by municipal governments and their partners to cut pollution, reduce greenhouse gases and improve municipal services. The Funds leverage larger amounts for studies and projects through contributions by municipalities and private-sector partnerships.
"Strengthening wastewater management operations and cutting air pollutants are important to the quality of life in Kingston and to protecting the environment," said Mr. Milliken. "I welcome this announcement which supports Kingston's leadership and commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening services through the project."
Utilities Kingston is contributing $40,000 to the study, matching the partnership funding of the Green Municipal Enabling Fund (GMEF), a component of the Green Municipal Funds. The GMEF covers up to half the cost of feasibility studies for projects that are aimed at cutting polluting emissions to air, water or soil through investments in energy or process efficiency or by promoting the use of renewable resources.
"Improving waste water treatment operations through sustainable practices such as co-generation technology will protect the environment and improve services, major goals of the Green Municipal Funds." said President Schmal. "We look forward to the study's recommendations and to working with Kingston to realize the potential benefits."
The study will evaluate using the methane gas produced in the plant's sewage for electrical generation and use in its operations. The process could reduce the amount of methane flared, burn it to produce electricity and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The project is expected to be completed by March 2003.
Utilities Kingston is the City owned utility company responsible for supplying, distributing and metering electricity and natural gas in the City Central. Utilities Kingston is also responsible for supplying, distributing and metering water and for collecting, pumping and treating sewage for the City of Kingston.
FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It is dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government. To date, 214 GMF projects have been approved for funding of $25 million, leveraging more than $98 million in total spending to act on cleaner air, water, soil and climate change.
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