CALGARY, AB – The Government of Alberta and Natural Resources Canada are committing a combined $50 million for Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) new Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program. SEMI will help program participants increase profitability by reducing energy costs, growing organizational skills and capacity building, and helping cover the cost of capital retrofits.
SEMI is designed to provide owners and tenants of Alberta’s industrial and manufacturing facilities with knowledge, expertise, and training in energy management. This $50 million program, with funding provided by the Government of Alberta and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), will help the province’s industrial and manufacturing sectors increase competitiveness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions until March 2027.
Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, made the announcement alongside ERA’s CEO, Justin Riemer, on Wednesday, October 16 at Lafarge Exshaw Cement Plant and the program officially launched and was open for applications on Thursday, October 17.
“We are investing in facility upgrades to set our industrial sectors up for continued success. This new initiative will keep our province at the forefront of technological advancement and ensure Alberta continues to lead the way in reducing emissions.”
The Honourable Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
“Supporting Canadian industry with their energy efficiency targets is a critical path towards meeting Canada’s net-zero targets and improving competitiveness in a growing global economy.”
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Government of Canada
“Improving the efficiency of industrial and manufacturing processes and facilities is the quickest, most cost-effective way to lower energy bills and stay competitive. But it takes knowledge, expertise, training, and capital. With SEMI, Alberta companies now have even more opportunity to invest in energy- and cost-saving technologies, right here in the province.”
Justin Riemer, CEO of Emissions Reduction Alberta
Eligible industrial sectors include agriculture, forestry, mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction, utilities; construction, manufacturing, transportation, waste management and more. Facilities must be owned or leased in Alberta and have operated for at least one year.
“ERA’s SEMI program represents a pivotal opportunity for industry to further our collective mission of enhancing environmental performance and operational efficiency. By providing the necessary financial support, this program will enable companies to invest in advanced technologies and practices that significantly reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and energy management solutions to contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Grant Wilde, Board Chair, Spartan Controls and BlueMarvel
“Reducing greenhouse emissions through energy efficiency is a powerful way industries can make a mark on reducing their carbon footprint while reducing energy costs. The SEMI program is an ideal opportunity for industries seeking to decarbonize through energy management and retrofits. At Lafarge, we have benefitted from long standing support from ERA, and we are excited to see new opportunities put forward in energy management and conservation.”
Stephanie Voysey, Head of Sustainability and Environment, Lafarge, Western Canada
Participating organizations will receive an analysis of their energy use and recommendations for services to improve their energy management. This will include support for strategic energy management programming, implementing energy management information systems, and capital retrofits. All participants are required to first undergo a Facility Readiness Assessment (FRA).
For more information contact:
Kevin Duncan
Emissions Reduction Alberta
403.431.2859
kduncan@eralberta.ca
ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION ALBERTA (ERA)
For 15 years, ERA has been investing the revenues from the carbon price paid by large final emitters to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative clean technology solutions. Since ERA was established in 2009, over $956 million has been committed toward 292 projects worth over $8.5 billion that are helping to reduce GHGs, create competitive industries, and lead to new business opportunities in Alberta. These projects are estimated to deliver cumulative reductions of 37.7 million tonnes of CO₂e by 2030. Please visit https://eralberta.ca.
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA
The Government of Alberta committed up to $10 million for the Strategic Energy Management for Industry program through the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund. The TIER regulation is Alberta’s industrial carbon pricing and emissions trading system. It helps industrial facilities find innovative ways to reduce emissions and invest in clean technology to stay competitive and save money.
ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA
Natural Resources Canada has provided $40 million in funding for the Strategic Energy Management for Industry Program through their Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program, which offers cost-shared financial support for a holistic and comprehensive suite of energy efficiency measures in Canada’s industrial sectors.