LAKELAND GETS $3M FOR PARRY SOUND ‘SMART GRID’
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
PARRY SOUND — An almost $3 million federal investment in Bracebridge Generation today promises clean, affordable, reliable, sustainable and self-sufficient energy one day for this Georgian Bay community.
It comes months before a federal election that will see the environment and clean energy play a key role in a green battlefield this fall.
Parliamentary Secretary Paul Lefebvre, on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, says the money will help create a “smart grid” to allow residents control of electricity usage.
It is part of Ottawa’s clean energy initiative.
And one day, it claims, Parry Sound could generate as much energy as it consumes, making it one of the first net zero communities in Canada.
By investing in smart grid technology, Canada is supporting better electricity systems that lower costs for families and create greener and more sustainable communities, says a Natural Resources release.
Bracebridge Generation, which is part of Lakeland Holdings, will receive $2.9-million for what it calls its Smart Proactive Enabled Energy Distribution Intelligently Efficiently Responsive (SPEEDIER) smart grid project.
Whatever that is.
Funding for the project comes from the Smart Grid Program, which is part of the Ottawa’s $180-billion Investing in Canada infrastructure plan.
It hopes the money will “increase electricity grid reliability, defer costly upgrades, make better use of existing assets, help speed the adoption of electric vehicles and give residents greater control over how they use energy.”
And help Parry Sound “significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and create jobs in an innovative and transformative field.”
Through Canada’s national energy dialogue, Generation Energy, they say Canadians made it clear that reliable, affordable clean energy solutions are not a luxury but a necessity for Canada’s low-carbon future.
Canada will continue to support clean energy initiatives that create jobs, support investment and industry competitiveness, advance our clean future and help realize our global climate change goals, the release concluded.
“Initiatives like this help build cleaner and safer electricity systems in remote and rural communities, while creating jobs and lowering costs for middle-class Canadians,” said Lefebvre
Chris Litschko, CEO of Lakeland Holding Ltd./Bracebridge Generation Ltd., added: “Lakeland believes that innovation in the electricity sector is the way of the future. Our SPEEDIER project in conjunction with our partners and support by NRCan is proof of this important transition. We look forward to implementing a successful SPEEDIER project and with lessons learned roll out this initiative elsewhere.”
Chris Litschko Chief Executive Officer, Lakeland Holding Ltd / Bracebridge Generation Ltd.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Bracebridge Generation to transform Parry Sound into a net-zero smart community,” said Hari Subramaniam chief of strategic growth for Opus One Solutions.
“By adding our grid intelligence solution to their toolset, Bracebridge Generation can take advantage of smarter and cleaner resources like a community micro-grid and residential demand management via controllable hot water tanks and battery storage to better balance energy consumption and generation. Projects like these not only boost the reliability of a system that we rely on daily, they also help us achieve savings for customers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“We’re thankful for the government’s support in making this happen and for helping open up jobs in the clean-tech economy.”
