International Hub Of Clean Water Technology

SooNews Staff for SooNews.ca
Friday, May 28, 2010, 10:34AM

ORAZIETTI ANNOUNCES NEW ONTARIO WATER LEGISLATION TO CREATE ECONOMIC GROWTH

McGuinty Government Working to Make Ontario an International Hub in Clean Water Technology



Queen’s Park – The McGuinty government has introduced legislation that will, if passed, make Ontario the leading clean water jurisdiction in North America. The “Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act” will, if passed, promote water conservation, attract economic development, and create jobs, David Orazietti, MPP announced today.



“Water and wastewater technology generates $1.8 billion in sales a year in Ontario and this sector, which is currently valued at over $400 billion worldwide, is doubling every five years so we are taking steps to ensure that Ontario is at the forefront of clean water technology and conservation,” said Orazietti. “This bill, together with our government’s landmark Green Energy Act will help us better conserve and protect our natural resources, create jobs and boost our economy.”



The Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act proposes to encourage the creation and export of innovative clean water technology, promote water conservation, attract economic development and create jobs. Among the proposals, the act would:



* Make Ontario a North American leader in developing and selling water technologies and services through the creation of the Water Technology Acceleration Project (TAP) - a technology hub bringing together industry, academics and government to develop the sector and promote it abroad
* Encourage Ontarians to use water more efficiently by creating and implementing innovative approaches to conservation
* Strengthen sustainable municipal water planning by helping them identify and plan for long term infrastructure needs



Ontario companies are already leading the way globally, employing 22,000 people and selling technologies and services for water around the world. These initiatives would help Ontarians use less water while paving the way for the growth of Ontario’s water technology sector in the rapidly expanding global market.



The provincial government’s Green Energy Act is boosting investment in renewable energy projects, increasing energy conservation, creating green jobs and strengthening economic growth in Sault Ste. Marie by investing in projects such as the Heliene Canada solar module manufacturing plant that the province provided a $1,875,000 loan and a $625,000 grant to build. The $6 million project is expected to produce 87,500 solar panels that can generate 20 megawatts of power per year and create a total of approximately 36 local jobs.



Key McGuinty government investments to support green technology and environmental initiatives in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma include:

* Power purchase agreement to facilitate $400 million investment by Brookfield Renewable Power - largest wind farm in Ontario
* Power purchase agreement to facilitate $135 million capital investment by Essar Steel in 70 MW co-gen plant – eliminating 400 tons of Nitrous Oxide
* Power purchase agreement to facilitate $100 million capital investment by Starwood Energy in 20 MW solar farm
* Over $7 million to green Sault Ste. Marie schools including energy retrofits
* $6 million in provincial gas tax funding has reduced air emissions through increased public transportation ridership
* $3 million to Sault Ste. Marie and Region Conservation Authority for water protection
* $2 million for tire recycling project in Sault Ste. Marie
* $1.4 million to construct methane collection system at landfill to reduce greenhouse gases
* $135,000 to support SITTM Technologies biofuel project
* Certificate of Approval for Elementa’s innovative waste-to-energy project



QUICK FACTS



* Water and wastewater technology is the largest sub-sector of Ontario’s environment industry generating $1.8 billion in sales
* The water technology sector is valued at more than $400 billion worldwide, doubling every five to six years
* Only one percent of the world’s water is fresh and renewable
* On average, Ontarians use 260 litres of water per day – twice as much as countries like Germany and the UK
* Five minutes of rinsing dishes under a faucet uses up to 95 litres of water
* Over 1,200 megawatts of new renewable projects, representing $2.8 billion of investment, have started up in Ontario since 2003
* Ontario is Canada’s leading province in wind and solar power
* The Green Energy Act will create 50,000 new jobs in the green energy sector
* CO2 emissions from coal-fired power generation are 73 per cent lower than 2003 levels, with four more units coming offline in fall, 2010

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