STRATFORD, P.E.I. - The federal and provincial governments are providing a total of $47.8 million in funding for programs to help Islanders reduce carbon emissions, be more energy efficient and save money.
“Climate change is a big challenge, but it is also an opportunity,” said federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay at Friday’s funding announcement at the Stratford Town Centre.
“By acting now, we will help grow our industry, our economy, reduce our energy costs, save people money and create well-paying jobs at the same time.”
The $47.8 million is divided between $23.8 million in federal funding under the $1.4-billion Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund announced in 2017, along with $24 million in provincial funding.
The funding will be applied to three provincial programs. The first with Efficiency P.E.I. helps with building retrofits, fuel switching and rebates to purchase and install energy-efficient products.
The other programs are with the Department of Communities, Land and Environment. They involve reducing carbon pollution in agriculture sectors and managing forests in terms of planting additional trees on less productive agricultural land to enhance carbon storage.
Also speaking at the funding announcement were provincial Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar and Communities, Land and Environment Minister Richard Brown.
