Edmonton - Yesterday, the federal government launched its $1-billion Clean Energy Fund. The announcement was made by the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, during an address to the University of Alberta.

The Fund invests $850 million in technology development and demonstration. This includes $650 million for large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects and $200 million for smaller-scale demonstration projects of renewable and alternative energy technologies.

Minister Raitt also announced that there will be a $150-million research component. This will fund initiatives ranging from basic research to pre-demonstration pilot projects of technologies ranging from next generation renewable and cleaner energy systems to new technologies to address environmental challenges in the oil sands such as water use and tailings.

An initial request for proposals for the small-scale demonstration component of the program was issued by the Government yesterday.

In addition to advancing key clean energy technologies in Canada, investments through the Clean Energy Fund will also support Canada's work with the United States in building a cleaner energy economy for North America through the Canada—U.S. Clean Energy Dialogue.

Part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan (2009), the Clean Energy Fund aims to generate new economic activity in the short term, while strengthening the foundation for sustainable prosperity in the future. The Economic Action Plan includes new measures totalling almost $2.4 billion to support a cleaner and more sustainable environment and help meet Canada's climate change objectives.

For more information on the calls for proposals and other relevant details, visit http://cef-fep.nrcan.gc.ca.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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