Finding the Power to Prosper - Sustainable and Renewable Energy Workshop will be held in the City of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada from May 11-13, 2006.

The workshop will explore available sustainable energy technologies along with the opportunities and challenges of providing sustainable energy to communities, businesses, and residents in New Brunswick and throughout Atlantic Canada. This workshop is tailored to meet the needs of engineers, scientists, builders, community organizations, government agencies and industry.

The workshop is broken into two streams. Stream one focuses on the engineering and technology of sustainable energy. Stream two focuses on the environmental and sustainability issues/challenges of providing affordable energy for Atlantic Canadians.

• The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick
• The Atlantic Coastal Action Program
• Bathurst Sustainable Development
• New Brunswick Department of Energy
• New Brunswick Home Builders Association
• Environment Canada
• Industry Canada
• The Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee
• Natural Resources Canada
• NBCC-Miramichi - Environmental Technology
• New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources
• The Southern Gulf of St Lawrence Coalition on Sustainability
• Enterprise Miramichi
• Roy Consultants Group
• Industrial Research Assistance Program

Alternative and Emerging Energy Sources:

Society’s dependence on fossil fuels for heating and other energy needs is becoming increasingly problematic to the environment, low-income residents, business and other sectors in Atlantic Canada. Consumers today have access to a wide array of energy efficient products and alternative energy sources; some more efficient and effective than others. So, how does one choose from among this mix of emerging technologies? Which technologies are the most dependable and cost effective? The cost-benefit considerations of these various sources will be considered during this workshop.

Environmental and Sustainability Issues:

Climate change impacts loom large as the environmental challenge of the century. Yet few communities have grappled with the environmental, economic or social impacts resulting from this challenge. Programs to reduce green house gas emissions, addressed through Canada’s efforts to meet our Kyoto commitments, have yet to effectively assist low-income Canadians to improve their energy efficiency. Energy poverty is prevalent in this region, so much so that increasing numbers of low-income families and the “working poor” are faced with making the difficult choice to either eat or heat their homes. In answer to this issue, the status of a new federal program to address energy poverty will be featured. Other speakers will profile the scope of this issue, in both urban and rural settings, in Atlantic Canada.

The planning team for this workshop (to date) includes:

Harry Collins - MREAC
Nadine Gauvin - SGSLCS
John LeBlanc (UPM - Kymmene)
Melissa Mertz - APEGNB
Karen Swan - EC
Alison Stewart - MREAC
John Legault - DFO
Pat McMahon - NBCC Miramichi
Debbie Buott - Environment Canada

Dates: May 11-13, 2006

Venue: Rodd Miramichi River Hotel, 1809 Water Street, Miramichi East, NB

Hosted by: APEGNB, EC, MREAC, NBCC-Miramichi, SGSLCS

Partners:
• Atlantic Coastal Action Program (Environment Canada)
• Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Coalition on Sustainability
• Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick - Northeast Branch
• Sunny Corner Enterprises
• Enterprise Miramichi
• Roy Consultants Group
• Industrial Research Assistance Program

Opportunity: Post-workshop angling at Doaktown on the Southwest Miramichi.