**** ENERGY/MINES Media Release
Government Amends Electricity Act
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Government is amending the Electricity Act to make it possible to add more clean, renewable energy to Nova Scotia’s electricity system.
The changes will create the Green Choice Program that gives large electricity customers the ability to purchase clean electricity from new, renewable energy projects through an independent and competitive process.
This will enable Nova Scotia to move forward with its agreement with the federal government to procure 100 per cent renewable electricity for all federally owned facilities in the province by 2022.
“Making our electricity system more flexible will create green economic growth and new jobs in communities across our province,” said Energy and Mines Minister Derek Mombourquette. “We know that the federal government and others want to be part of our cleaner energy future, and this will build on Nova Scotia’s position as a national leader in fighting climate change.”
Regulations will be developed to establish controls that help protect ratepayers.
Quick Facts:
— Nova Scotia has set the most ambitious goals in Canada for cutting greenhouse gas emissions – 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and balancing greenhouse gas emissions with greenhouse gas removals and other offsetting measures, or net-zero, by 2050
— Nova Scotia is in the middle of an unprecedented period of electricity rate stability that will continue until at least 2022
— renewable energy use in Nova Scotia has more than tripled over the past 13 years. In 2021, more than 60 per cent of our electricity will come from renewable sources
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FISHERIES/AQUACULTURE Media Release
Lobster Quality Research and Innovation Centre To Help Fishery
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Nova Scotia’s premium lobster fishery supports rural communities across the province, growing its exports to $1.2 billion in 2019. A new $2.5 million lobster quality and innovation centre will find new ways to further advance the quality and export value of lobster.
“We want Nova Scotia to provide the world with the highest quality lobsters available, so we are proud to fund this research centre to help work toward that goal for our growing seafood industry,” said Keith Colwell, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “This centre will help strengthen the role of the province’s lobsters as a sustainable, renewable, natural resource in domestic and international markets.”
The province and Université Sainte-Anne are working together to develop a facility for cutting-edge research. The Lobster Quality Research and Innovation Centre based at Université Sainte-Anne in Church Point, Digby Co. will attract a world-class research team.
It will work closely with the university’s Marine Research Centre located in Petit-de-Grat, Richmond Co., to support innovation in the lobster industry.
Areas of focus will include live lobster quality, handling and holding practices, storage and shipping and new technologies for grading. It will be guided by an advisory committee.
It is under construction and is expected to be ready for operation by summer.
Quotes:
“Be it for the betterment of our Acadian communities, the prosperity of rural Nova Scotia or the economic growth of our province as a whole, there is not a more logical area than lobster for Université Sainte-Anne to focus its energies as it grows its research enterprise. We therefore could not be prouder than we are today as we announce the establishment of this Lobster Quality Research and Innovation Centre.”
– Kenneth Deveau, vice president, Academic and Research, Université Sainte-Anne
“The processors, buyers and sellers of lobster in Nova Scotia take quality very seriously and we welcome this initiative to bring a scientific look at ways to enhance lobster quality. We market our live and processed Nova Scotia lobster world-wide and always focus on providing the very best.”
– Leo Muise, executive director of Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance
Quick Facts:
— the three-year budget of about $2.5 million will be used for personnel ($525,000 – research lead and laboratory technicians), lab equipment ($1.6 million), and operating costs ($282,000)
— the funding comes from the province’s Building Tomorrow Fund which helps fisheries and agriculture companies working to create new products, access new markets and add value to existing products
— Nova Scotia lobster is known around the world for its high quality. Nova Scotia exports $2.3 billion in seafood products to 80 countries, with lobster being the highest value export.
Additional Resources:
More information about the Lobster Quality Research and Innovation Centre is located here: http://www.usainteanne.ca/en/community-and-industry-liaison
