November 16, 2016 – Melanie Irwin, Blackburn News – Sarnia is at the forefront of sustainable practices in the energy sector according to Canadian Senator Richard Neufeld, from British Columbia.
Neufeld, is the Chair of a Senate committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, that has been touring local facilities this week; like the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park, NOVA Chemicals and Bio-Amber.
He says they’re looking for input from local industrial sustainability leaders to assist in their study which will examine the costs and impacts of a transition to a lower-carbon economy.
“The things that we see around Sarnia here now, are going to be here for a long time,” said Neufeld. “The oil and gas industry and chemical industry is very much intertwined in our everyday life. From clothes, to lipstick, to medicine, to plastics.. that still has to come from petroleum products. There’s nothing that we know of, or have been told of, that will take its place.”
He says it was nice to hear at the research park about the green energy initiatives underway locally, because he says it’s a combination of both that we have to look at in the future.
“From the “Green World,” if that’s what you want to call it, what they impressed on us was that they need access to funds,” said Neufeld. “They need access to places to do their work, which I guess this huge area here would be one of those.”
Senator Neufeld says one of the big messages they’ll have to give to government is to keep industry competitive.
“Industry is saying be careful about tax increases, be careful about costs to industry because to remain competitive with our largest partner, just south of the border which is not very far from here, it’s a different world.”
Neufeld says it doesn’t matter where you go in Canada those views are shared.
“We have to remain competitive, but we still have to look at how we reduce our impact on the environment through greenhouse gas emissions.”
Neufeld says they also met with members of the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce Monday afternoon to hear their concerns.
The committee launched their study in April and hope to have it completed by the end of September 2017.
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