The federal government is investing a total of $15M in clean fuel projects in Niagara, with around $10M going to two projects in the Thorold Multimodal Hub.
CHAR Technologies is getting over $5M, while StormFisher Hydrogen is getting $4.6M. Azure Sustainable Fuels Corp in Port Colborne is getting another $5M.
Jonathan Wilkinson, who is the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, came down to the Thorold Multimodal Hub on Friday morning to make the announcement.
“Ensuring Canada’s success in a rapidly decarbonizing global economy does not happen by chance,” Wilkinson told the gathered crowd. “We have developed a plan for a cleaner economy and we have invested over $200 billion in the fight against climate change and in accelerating the development of a prosperous economy that can work for every province and territory in this country.”
Wilkinson took the opportunity to take a swipe at political opponents who don’t believe in climate change.
“One of the objectives I have always had and held to is to work to ensure that all political parties acknowledge and embrace the science of climate change,” he said. “That we all accept the need for action, given as this is a science issue and this is not and should not be a partisan issue. Trying to ensure we get to a more thoughtful place in the political dialogue of this country is truly the responsibility of all of you and I look to folks like you to help encourage greater thought on these very important issues.”
Chris Bittle, who is a St. Catharines MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, also spoke at the event.
He shared that for three generations his family worked at the Thorold Multimodal Hub when it was still a paper mill. It is Bittle's hope that the investment will help create new jobs at the hub.
“A lot of politicians will like to put their heads in the sand in terms of the reality of climate change but the reality is here,” he told the gathered crowd. “We can be at the forefront of rising technologies to make sure there is a bright and prosperous future and to also make sure that we’re protecting the next generation.”
CHAR Technologies has been operating a pyrolysis facility at the Thorold Multimodal Hub since 2022.
Pyrolysis is a heating process that converts discarded wood into renewable natural gas and bio-carbons, in an effort to provide other industries with a cleaner energy source.
The new funding will enable CHAR to replicate their operation at four new facilities in Kirkland Lake, Ontario; Drayton Valley, Alberta; and Saint Félicien and La Sarre, Quebec, creating a distributed network of low-carbon fuels production facilities.
“We’re dedicated to decarbonating heavy industry by harnessing the power of wood waste,” said Char CEO Andrew White. “While CHAR Tech Thorold represents the beginning of our commercialization journey, this announcement of the clean fuels fund injects fresh momentum into our expansion efforts as we continue in the spirit of collaboration with our local partners.”
The $4.6M StormFisher Hyrdrogen is receiving will support a front-end engineering (FEED) study for a renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility at the Thorold Multimodal Hub.
If this study leads to a positive investment decision, the project could support over 100 construction jobs and around 30 full-time jobs during operations in Thorold, Ontario.
"We look forward to working on the feasibility and engaging locally," said the company's co-founder Brandon Moffat. "I have committed to engaging with the community locally so they know exactly what we're doing and how we go about it. I look forward to this remarkable journey we've been on for some time and continue on."
The FEED study is aiming for a Summer 2025 completion date, with plans for a potential production facility at the Thorold Multimodal Hub slated for 2027.
