Province Cuts Emissions, Expands Natural Gas Use

The province is helping Saint Mary's University switch from oil furnaces to cleaner burning natural gas.

Energy Minister Richard Hurlburt was on the Saint Mary's campus in Halifax today, Aug. 13, to deliver a cheque for $993,000 to university president Colin Dodds.

"Natural gas is a made-in-Nova Scotia solution to improving air quality and protecting the environment," said Mr. Hurlburt. "We are proud to help Saint Mary's provide a reliable, efficient and healthier energy source to their staff and students."

Saint Mary's University president Colin Dodds said the conversion is part of the school's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.

"We encourage our students, faculty, staff and alumni to engage in global challenges and to take action on issues of universal significance, such as the degradation of the environment," said Mr. Dodds.

Expected to be completed in October, the project will heat more than one million square feet of space and reduce the university's emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes a year -- equal to taking about 400 cars off the road.

"This initiative is a further indication of our commitment to universities as they continue to address their infrastructure needs," Education Minister Karen Casey said. "In doing so, I'm pleased we can also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Saint Mary's new heating plant will also serve as an anchor load for the surrounding area, similar to the Capital District Health Authority conversion last year. These larger customers allow Heritage Gas to expand its network further into Halifax, and help further diversify the Halifax energy market.

"We are very pleased to expand our natural gas system to the southern part of the Halifax peninsula," said Ray Ritcey, president of Heritage Gas. "This will provide a new energy product that brings both economic and environmental benefits to this great educational institution and the community around it."

Mr. Hurlburt added, "Natural gas encourages competition and creates options for energy efficiency. Nova Scotia has over 40 trillion cubic feet of natural-gas potential -- let's put it to work for Nova Scotians."

The province has already supported natural gas conversion projects in Burnside and in health-care facilities in Amherst, Dartmouth and Halifax. The province's funding comes from the Gas Market Development Fund, created to support the development of Nova Scotia's natural gas distribution system.