On March 14, 2024, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, embarked on a visit to the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick. Accompanied by Jenica Atwin, Member of Parliament for Fredericton, the Minister heralded significant investments poised to transform the base.
Representing the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, Minister Petitpas Taylor revealed a substantial infusion of $55.6 million into the base’s infrastructure. This comprehensive upgrade initiative, facilitated through an Energy Performance Contract, targets the enhancement of 255 buildings. Among the slated improvements are LED lighting installations, advanced heat and energy recovery systems, high-efficiency boilers, fortified building envelopes, upgraded water fixtures, a new high-efficiency gas power generator, and innovative geothermal technology.
“The modernizations to the Gagetown base will benefit our military members and make the base more sustainable in the long term. By supporting green projects like these, we’re investing in Atlantic Canada’s economic prosperity while developing local employees’ expertise in these new green technologies. This is an excellent step forward on our path to reduce emissions,” explained the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.
Scheduled for completion in 2026, this endeavor promises a remarkable 24% reduction in energy expenditure, translating to annual savings of $3 million, along with a concurrent cut of over 8,700 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions per annum – equivalent to removing more than 1,700 cars from the road. The initial wave of emissions reduction and energy savings is anticipated to commence as early as April 2024, with the full suite of upgrades anticipated to be finalized by April 2026, culminating in the comprehensive reduction of energy costs.
“Projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help save costs are good for the environment and good for the economy. As the Member of Parliament representing Base Gagetown, and as someone born and raised in Oromocto, I know that the people in this community care deeply about both making life more affordable and combatting the climate crisis. Investing in smart, effective projects like the solar farm and the energy-efficient upgrades will help us do that,” said Jenica Atwin, Member of Parliament for Fredericton.
This venture is anticipated to stimulate the creation of over 200 employment opportunities within the Oromocto vicinity during the construction phase. Additionally, incumbent workers will undergo skill augmentation via training sessions focusing on the utilization of the upgraded infrastructure. Notably, Ameresco Canada Inc., headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, has been entrusted with the execution of this transformative initiative.
In addition to the infrastructure overhaul, Minister Petitpas Taylor announced a concurrent investment of approximately $19.7 million towards the establishment of a solar farm boasting an output potential of up to 8.9 megawatts (MW) at the Gagetown military base. This ambitious endeavor, awarded to Ameresco Canada Inc., is projected for completion by 2025.
Upon realization, the solar farm is poised to furnish over two-thirds of the base’s energy requirements during peak hours, resulting in a consequential reduction of approximately 3,200 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions annually. With an estimated annual electricity production of 8,900 MW hours, the solar farm is set to satiate around 20% of 5 CDSB Gagetown’s electricity demands, equating to adequate energy to power 2,000 homes. Furthermore, the solar farm aligns with the Government of Canada’s objective of achieving 100% clean electricity utilization across all federal edifices by 2025, thereby propelling efforts towards carbon neutrality by 2050.
This initiative promises substantial economic benefits for the neighboring region, with a special focus on Indigenous communities. A minimum of 5% of the total project value, encompassing goods, services, and labor, will be allocated to Indigenous-owned enterprises and communities. Anticipated to encompass an overall investment of $27.5 million, inclusive of construction costs and 25 years of operational and maintenance expenses, this project underscores the commitment of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces towards environmental stewardship and sustainability.
With a commendable 36% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions already achieved nationwide compared to 2005 levels, the Government of Canada remains steadfast in its resolve to spearhead transformative investments aimed at curbing the carbon footprint of Defence infrastructure. By leveraging clean electricity sources and optimizing energy efficiency, military bases are poised to transition towards a greener, more sustainable operational paradigm.
“We have an obligation to provide our military personnel with modern, green infrastructure that meets their needs – and that is exactly what we are doing with these investments. These upgrades to our Gagetown military base will create hundreds of jobs and reduce our emissions – creating a healthier environment for our military personnel and all Canadians,” expressed the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence.