NB: Laforge Holstein receives funding for biogas plant

[GRAND FALLS, NB] — Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be reduced in the province as the result of a project being supported by the New Brunswick Climate Action Fund, Environment Minister Rick Miles announced on Monday.

The Department of Environment is providing an investment of $903,870 to Laforge Holstein Ltd. to build a biogas plant (digester) to produce electricity. It will use the waste as fertilizer for local farming operations. The feedstock for the digester will come from waste potato peel, french fries and vegetable oil from the McCain Foods Ltd. plant in Grand Falls and manure from local dairy farms.

This project is expected to reduce GHG emissions by 15,956 tonnes annually.

“Through this innovative project, Laforge Holstein Ltd. is directly contributing to the development of renewable energy in New Brunswick and promoting long-term, sustainable growth in the energy sector,” said Energy Minister Jack Keir. “This project captures many aspects of our vision for the energy hub.”

The project is identified in An Action Plan for Self-Sufficiency in Northern New Brunswick 2010-2013, a three-year plan for the government and community stakeholders to implement specific initiatives and strategies to be undertaken in northern New Brunswick. The plan lists specific actions with anticipated outcomes.

Established from New Brunswick’s portion of the federal government’s Canada Eco-Trust for Clean Air and Climate Change, the $34-million climate action fund supports projects in keeping with the New Brunswick Climate Change Action Plan.

The three-year fund is dedicated to public-sector, private-sector and not-for-profit initiatives that will result in reductions or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

The provincial government launched the five-year action plan in June 2007. As a result of the New Brunswick-led initiatives in the plan, GHG emissions will be reduced in the province by 5.5 megatonnes annually in 2012.

With the addition of federal initiatives, the plan will reduce New Brunswick’s GHG emissions to 1990 levels in 2012.