Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (Oshawa Power) has received the 2021 Jessica Markland Award, recognizing the co-operative efforts of those who strive to enhance the environment by building partnerships with public, community, and private interests.
“We would like to thank the Region of Durham’s Environmental Advisory Committee for recognizing Oshawa Power in the same category as past winners like General Motors of Canada, Habitat for Humanity, and Lakeridge Citizens for Clean Water,” remarked Ivano Labricciosa, President & CEO of the Oshawa Power Group of Companies.
Enerforge, an Oshawa Power subsidiary, is no stranger to seeking out partnerships to successfully complete advanced energy projects. In partnership with the ZooShare Co-operative and the Toronto Zoo, they were able to bring a Zoo- based Biogas plant to life, the first of its kind in Canada. Each year the project turns 2,000 tonnes of zoo manure and 15,000 tonnes of organic food waste into enough renewable energy to power approximately 250 homes, while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by as much as 20,000 tonnes. The partnership, and a Low Carbon Economy Fund Grant from the Government of Canada enabled this project to be brought to a successful completion.
Another subsidiary of Oshawa Power partnered with The Region of Durham, Plug ‘N Drive, and local car dealerships to bring E-Mission, an Electric Vehicle education initiative started by Oshawa Power in 2018, to the entire Region of Durham. With the help of a Natural Resources Canada grant, the team brought a Mobile Education Trailer to six locations in Durham for a week long visit at each location to promote cleaner transportation alternatives and an opportunity to test drive an extended variety of models. In addition, Oshawa Power has been getting ready for the future of mobility by increasing capacity to accommodate automobile electrification and sighting EV public charging locations. E-Mission and the working partnership with the Region of Durham on Electrifying transit are examples of how Oshawa Power is actively involved in our community and helping prepare for the future.
EnerFORGE is also working in partnership with Durham Region Transit and the Atmospheric Fund to demonstrate local thought leadership and develop a transit electrification guide for municipalities across Canada. This guide will assist other municipalities in their scale up to zero emission public transit. EnerFORGE is prepared to play a leading role in the electrification of the Durham Region Transit System.
Enbridge Gas helps Oshawa, Ajax, Clarington fire services
Enbridge Gas, the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and Oshawa Fire Services announced they are working to improve home safety and bring fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths down to zero.
Oshawa Fire Services has received 378 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through Safe Community Project Zero–a public education campaign that will provide over 16,600 alarms to residents in 70 municipalities across Ontario. Ajax Fire and Emergency Services received 342, while Enbridge Gas has donated 318 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Clarington Emergency and Fire Services.
This year, Enbridge Gas invested $500,000 in Safe Community Project Zero, and over the past 13 years, the program has provided more than 68,000 alarms to Ontario fire departments.
When properly installed and maintained, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms help provide the early warning to safely escape from a house fire or carbon monoxide exposure. Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odourless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of many types of common fuels.