Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced on April 27 an investment of more than $2.6 million to Montreal-based Tugliq Energy Co. to address barriers to electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in Northern Quebec. “By investing in making EV chargers more accessible to people in Nunavik, Quebec, the federal government is delivering on our commitment to Canadians to ensure that communities across the country are moving toward a net-zero future and contributing to the achievement of our climate goals” says the minister.
Reacting to climate change is a necessity for Canada, where the north of the country is disproportionately affected by a warming environment. But solutions can offer potential for significant economic opportunities in energy and transportation, says the Canadian government in a recent announcement.
The investment will help Tugliq Energy Co. “demonstrate and assess the use of innovative EV technology and charging stations tied to a hybrid diesel-renewable smart grid,” according to a government press release. The cutting-edge EV infrastructure in rural and remote northern communities will demonstrate how these communities can meet their future transportation needs with zero-emission vehicle technologies.
The purpose of the investment project is to reduce greenhouse gasses and protect fragile ecosystems while also providing job opportunities, particularly aimed at Inuit attending the Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy related to the operation and maintenance training of EV charging stations.
The federal funding for this project was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Green Infrastructure – Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program, which aims to accelerate the market entry of next-generation clean energy technologies.
