Canada Will Offer Aid To Manufacturers To Reduce GHG Emissions

Industrial sectors account for 40 percent of energy usage and approximately 50 percent of all greenhouse (GHG) emissions in Canada. To help reduce this number, last week Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson launched the Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP), a program to provide up to $20 million in financial assistance per proposal to industrial facilities to maximize energy efficiency and reduce emissions in their operations.

The GIFMP will support activities like energy assessments and audits, training for energy management practitioners, and capital investments to modify or upgrade facility energy systems, processes, and infrastructure.

The program will offer cost-shared financial assistance to support industrial energy efficiency in two tracks:

• Track 1, Energy Efficiency Solutions, is directed to provinces, territories, utilities, and other recipients including established industrial networks. To apply for Track 1, interested parties can obtain an application form by contacting Natural Resources Canada by email at: rfpindustry-ddpindustrie.rncan@canada.ca.
• Track 2, Industrial Facilities, will directly support industry in implementing energy efficiency projects within individual facilities. This track, focused on filling support gaps across Canada, will be launched later in 2023.

The GIFMP also will provide capacity-building tools, guides, and case studies and will support outreach and awareness activities through an industry-government partnership network that collects energy data, shares information, facilitates mentoring on energy and related matters, and communicates successes.

Funding for the program comes from Canada’s 2022 budget, which included $194 million over five years for Natural Resources Canada to offer cost-shared financial support for a holistic and comprehensive suite of energy efficiency measures through March 2027.