Funding supports Net-Zero community buildings and active transportation in Antigonish
The province is providing $7.4 million as part of a nearly $20 million investment in energy efficiency upgrades and a new active transportation corridor in Antigonish County.
“Nova Scotia is a national leader in the fight against climate change. Transitioning to more renewable energy sources like solar power and encouraging active transportation are just a few of the many actions propelling us towards our ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness and Member of Parliament for Antigonish, on behalf of Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy.
Today’s announcement, July 19, includes nearly $500,000 for energy efficiency upgrades to nine community buildings in the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, including six community centres. The federal government is investing over $598,000 and the municipality is contributing over $399,000 to the project.
Improvements include replacing heating and lighting systems and installing solar panels on each building to improve energy efficiency and achieve net zero energy. The project will also offset the municipality’s carbon footprint through the production of a total of 297 kilowatts of renewable solar energy. Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2027.
The province will also provide $6.9 million to create an active transportation corridor in Antigonish County. It will span a five kilometer stretch of Highway 4 from Beech Hill Road to Addington Forks Road. The new corridor will provide pedestrians and cyclists with a safe active transportation option connected to the new active transportation backbone through the town of Antigonish and St. FX University. The federal government is contributing $9 million to the project, and the Municipality of Antigonish County is contributing over $2 million. Construction is expected to begin in late summer and be completed by 2026.
Quotation:
These projects will create jobs, make Antigonish a better place to live, and help make the county more environmentally sustainable. It is extraordinary to see another investment of this magnitude from the federal government reaching Antigonish.
Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and communities
Partnership is key, these projects are an example of three levels of government working with the community for long term sustainability. These buildings will see a real reduction in running costs, a fantastic way to support them and the volunteers who keep them running. This, along with the development of an active transportation corridor, will connect people and places, encourage active living and strengthen community. This corridor will connect to the City’s active transportation trails, another example of local partnership. Both projects reduce greenhouse gases and build local resilience to climate change. We are excited to actively offset the carbon footprint of our communities and show how rural communities can lead by example.
Owen McCarron, Director, Municipality of the County of Antigonish
Fast facts:
- the province has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 53% below 2005 levels by 2030
- buildings contribute 12% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the province
- the total cost of the net zero community buildings project is $1,497,912
- the total cost of the active transportation corridor project is $18 million
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