New Program Supporting Low-carbon Innovation for Industry
Helping Fight Climate Change and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Pollution in Ontario
Ontario is supporting industries to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from their facilities or manufacturing processes through a new program from the Green Ontario Fund, a non-profit provincial agency funded by proceeds from the province's carbon market.
Chris Ballard, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, was joined today by Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science, and Parminder Sandhu, Green Ontario Fund board chair, to announce the launch of GreenON Industries and the successful applicants for TargetGHG, a similar industry-focused program.
GreenON Industries will provide funding for eligible projects that reduce greenhouse gas pollution in buildings and the production of goods by large emitters and other industrial, commercial and institutional facilities. Projects could involve switching to less carbon intensive fuels, redirecting harmful carbon dioxide emissions back into production processes, upgrading energy inefficient production equipment and introducing production processes that require fewer energy resources.
GreenON Industries builds on the TargetGHG program, which brings together large industries, innovative cleantech companies and research consortiums in order to develop new technologies that will help lower greenhouse gas emissions, support innovation and strengthen the economy. Both programs are key parts of the province's plan to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from industry, which generates almost a third of Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions.
The TargetGHG projects announced today include using landfill gas to generate electricity in an auto plant, a fast-charging station for electric vehicles and a more efficient way of capturing solar energy.
Making it easier for businesses to choose, access and adopt low-carbon products and technologies is part of Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
- GreenON Industries will provide up to $200 million in matching funding for eligible projects that reduce greenhouse gas pollution in buildings and the production of goods by large emitters and other industrial, commercial and institutional facilities.
- Companies interested in how to qualify and apply for the new GreenON Industries program should visit GreenON.ca.
- Through its Climate Change Action Plan, Ontario is investing $377 million in proceeds from its carbon market in the Green Ontario Fund, launched in summer 2017.
- TargetGHG was launched in February 2016 and is administered by the Ontario Centres of Excellence. Nine projects in the Industrial Demonstration Program, three projects in the Collaborative Technology Development Program and five projects in the Collaborative R&D Program are being announced.
- TargetGHG is supported by $74 million, a part of the province’s initial investment in the Climate Change Action Plan.
“Ontario is committed to fighting climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from big industries. Our Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market work together to fund transformative programs like GreenON Industries and ensure we are moving towards a cleaner, low-carbon future.”
“Supporting the efforts of large industries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of our government’s Climate Change Action Plan. With the help of our province’s innovative cleantech companies, the TargetGHG program will help build a prosperous, low carbon economy and create a cleaner, more sustainable future for Ontario.”
“GreenON Industries will accelerate Ontario’s transition to a low-carbon economy, while helping our industry and clean-technology innovators become more globally competitive. As envisioned in the Climate Change Action Plan, we’re using proceeds from the carbon market to create a prosperous and resilient economy for the people of Ontario and a healthier and sustainable environment.”