Environmental projects get millions from Go Green Fund

Nearly $10 million to support environmental sustainable projects have been awarded by the provincial government from the Go Green Fund.

Among the new funding, announced Friday, is $5 million for the Petroleum Research Centre’s Aquistore project to demonstrate that storage of carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers is a safe and workable solution for reducing greenhouse gases.

Another grant, for $2.1 million, is to the Saskatchewan Research Council   more...to further develop and demonstrate a new thermochemical technology to covert biomass into ethanol.

Another grant, for $1.14 million, will go to the University of Saskatchewan for a project known as THREATS, which refers to The Healthy River Ecosystem Assessment Tool System.

Several smaller grants were also announced as part of the package, including a $100,000 grant to the City of Regina and Evergreen Sports Programming to develop a waste reduction program at Mosaic Stadium in Regina that can be used as a model for similar programs at other facilities.

“These (grants) made in Saskatchewan projects will reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions and protect our water resources,’’ Environment Minister Nancy Heppner said.

“Through the Go Green Fund we continue to support innovative approaches to environment problem-solving,’’ Heppner added, in a news release issued Friday.

The expenditures announced Friday includes $8.6 million for new projects plus $1.3 million for continuing support for projects previously supported.

The provincial government has increased financial support for the Go Green Fund to $17.5 million in the 2008-2009 fiscal year, from the previous $7.5 million.  less