Ottawa funds dam modernization project

Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced yesterday that the Madawaska Hydrodam Modernization project will receive up to $2 million through Ottawa's "ecoENERGY for renewable power" program.

"This clean energy project at the Madawaska hydro dam is helping to create high-quality jobs and a sustainable energy source for New Brunswick's future," Valcourt said in a statement.

The Madawaska hydro dam, operated by Edmundston Energy, is a 4.05 megawatt hydroelectric system commissioned last March to replace an old hydro plant built in 1917.

The project is expected to generate about 20 gigawatt hours of electricity a year that will be used by Edmundston Energy to power about 1,625 homes.

Last year, the New Brunswick government kicked in $1 million for the hydro dam project, which is expected to cut 14,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.