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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2010
(Niagara): At the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club in downtown St. Catharines, Ontario's Minister of Energy & Infrastructure, the Hon. Brad Duguid addressed members of the St. Catharines - Thorold Chamber of Commerce about Ontario's Green Energy Act.
With a recently unveiled banner that proclaims Niagara as the green energy capital of Canada as the backdrop for the Minister's address, Minister Duguid opened his remarks with words of congratulations and encouragement for the Chamber for its role in recognizing the abundance of green energy that is produced in Niagara, and staking a claim to it on a national level.
The Minister acknowledged that Niagara plays a significant role in producing renewable energy for Ontario noting that the Big Beck Project, which is currently underway in Niagara Falls, will add even more renewable energy to the grid.
Minister Duguid's speech focused on Ontario's goals to increase the production of green, renewable energy, increasing the conservation of energy across the province, creating more stability in the overall production of electricity, and creating a leading North American renewable energy sector in Ontario. The Minister also pointed to the benefits for the greening of business, and the projected increases in employment if Ontario reaches its full potential as a green energy powerhouse in North America.
"As the Minister noted, there's a lot of opportunities in the green sector," stated Phil Ritchie, owner of Keefer Developments and the Keefer Mansion Inn, and Vice Chair - Thorold for the Chamber of Commerce. "With a projected $53 trillion dollars to be spent on climate change and environmental initiatives over the next 40 years, there's a lot of economic upside, and Ontario - and Niagara - are well positioned to be global leaders."
With the sponsorship of Investeco Capital, Canada's largest green sector investment firm, the special luncheon comes a week after the Chamber released a report titled The Building of Niagara's Green Economy.
"The fact that we have so many people joining us today - and that many of you are already leaders in working towards generating new forms of energy, points to the strength of Niagara," continued Ritchie. "Much like what Minister Duguid said today, we're just starting down a path that will benefit generations to come, and we are creating the kind of sustainable prosperity for those in our community today."
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