Grande Prairie to Look at "Recycling" Waste Heat

Climate Change Central has awarded to the City of Grande Prairie $50,000 towards a $135,000 feasibility study to use waste heat from a new power plant to heat buildings in Grande Prairie.

Grande Prairie city officials will spearhead the project. Canadian Gas and Electric (CG&E) will be installing a power plant this fall that will use waste wood from the Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) sawmill to produce electricity. The plant will also produce excess heat that can be used in "district heating" to supply heat for buildings. This project will examine the potential for co-generation and delivering the excess heat to nearby buildings in Grande Prairie.

Participants in this project include ATCO Gas, Canfor, Canadian Gas and Electric, the City of Grande Prairie, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Climate Change Central.

"We are proud to be taking a lead role in this project as it marks the first time that all levels of government will be involved as well as private corporations. We know that all eyes will be watching Grande Prairie as we move forward in developing district energy systems in communities such as ours," says Alderman Carol Lee Eckhardt.

"This is a proposal with an innovative approach to creating energy where there once was waste and we are pleased to be participating" says Brendan Dolan, Manager ATCO Gas. "Grande Prairie is the place many of our employees call home and we are delighted to contribute our knowledge of the community, as well as of heating systems, to this project," he adds.

"The Federal of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is pleased that its Green Municipal Funds helped to enable the community to explore the potential for district energy systems and we are delighted that Climate Change Central and ATCO are joining this partnership. Their support will greatly expand the project's impact" says John Schmal, Vice-President of FCM.

"Recovering waste heat is a great way to cut fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions," says Allan Amey, Climate Change Central President and CEO. "If this proves feasible in Grande Prairie, many other places in Alberta could go the same route."

Climate Change Central is a unique partnership between Alberta businesses, governments and the environmental community, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Its multi-stakeholder programs focus on innovation, technology, education and public participation to strengthen Alberta's environmental energy advantage.

For further information contact:

Carol Lee Eckhardt
Alderman, City of Grande Prairie
(780) 539-0945
www.city.grande-prairie.ab.ca

Allan Amey
President and CEO
Climate Change Central
(403) 517-2701
www.climatechangecentral.com