McGuinty Government Supports Clean Energy Projects In Northern Ontario

ATIKOKAN, ON, Sep. 5, 2007 -- Canada NewsWire

The McGuinty government is promoting the development of cleaner electricity generation in Ontario by investing $4 million in the Atikokan Bio-Energy Research Centre to support six innovative projects that will include research and testing in northern Ontario, Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan announced today on behalf of Energy Minister Dwight Duncan.

"These projects will help us develop the technologies to make Ontario a leader in cleaner energy," said Mauro. "Producing electricity from bio-energy sources can reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions while providing new economic opportunities that will strengthen our communities in northern Ontario."

The six projects will be directed by researchers from Ontario universities and colleges and will receive additional financial or in-kind support from partner companies in the industrial sector.

"These projects will provide a number of benefits to our region and to the rest of Ontario," said Mayor Dennis Brown of the Township of Atikokan. "Every project has the potential to provide new economic opportunities to northwestern Ontario, while also providing training to students, increasing our expertise in bio-energy and helping to create a competitive commercial advantage for Ontario-based companies."

The Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), an organization that connects academia and industry to bring innovations to market, is managing the program on behalf of the Ministry of Energy. OCE has issued offers of funding through the Atikokan Bio-Energy Research Centre for six research projects.

SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Energy

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