ATL: Atlantic CPA chair responds to Nova Scotia announcements on environment efficiency
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In December, the Nova Scotia government announced its plans to address climate change in the province with “Our Climate, Our Future,” as well as a $140 million investment in energy-efficient upgrades.
CPA Atlantic Chair Royden Boudreau wrote to the ministers of environment and natural resources to point out the missed opportunity of not including propane, especially as it pertains to space heating and the likely continued dependency on coal for much of the province’s power generation.
Boudreau also raised the issue of extreme weather events and that when a weather event does occur, propane is “energy’s first responder.” He cited Hurricane Fiona as just the latest example of the importance of propane energy when power is interrupted for a significant period. “It is unclear to us how the plan, which relies so heavily on electrification, would be of any use when the power source is disrupted.”
Boudreau also noted that with the high cost of electricity in Nova Scotia and the challenges of implementing a provincial version of the federal Greener Homes Grant program, the government should be making affordability and energy choice the focus of their emission reduction programs.
The CPA expects to meet with the departments of environment and natural resources in late January.
