New energy center in Gatineau: for more carbon-neutral government operations

Sonia Roy

The Modernized Gatineau Energy Centre, which the construction and development will begin in June 2022 and is expected to be completed in March 2025, will be one of the few thermal power plants in North America with this high of a level of carbon neutrality. The announcement was made by the Honorable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Service and Procurement, accompanied by her colleague Greg Fergus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and the President of the Treasury Board. Minister Tassi's Parliamentary Secretary, Anthony Housefather, and members of Innovate Energy, a private company, were on hand at the National Printing and Boiler Plant for the June 9 construction launch. 

The renovation of what will soon be the Modernized Gatineau Energy Centre was organized through the Energy Services Aquisition Program (ESAP). This government initiative, which aims to modernize heating facilities and make the federal energy network carbon neutral, targets the thermal and cooling plants that are involved in heating and cooling government buildings. The Modernized Gatineau Energy Centre, which will use 99% of Hydro-Quebec's carbon neutral energy, will join the Tunney's Pasture Energy Centre, the new Cliff Energy Centre at Parliament Hill and the Confederation Heights Energy Centre, all modernized plants that will have had their steam facilities replaced by low temperature hot water systems. This type of state-of-the-art system is one of the greenest and most sustainable in existence. The government's goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% by 2025, and this project will reduce GHG emissions from its operations, including heating and cooling, by 92%. The contract for this $3.8 billion ESAP project was awarded to Innovate Energy, a consortium composed of PCL Construction, ENGIE Services Canada, Black & McDonald, WSP and bbb architects. 

In her speech, Minister Tassi said, "This energy center will not only reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, save hundreds of millions of dollars in heating and cooling costs and increase security, but it will also serve as an example for other similar initiatives around the world. "The Modernized Gatineau Energy Centre will be one of the few energy centers of its size in North America that is carbon neutral in heating and cooling," added Minister Fergus. Finally, for those wondering about the design and visual impact of the future center, Minister Fergus concluded by saying that "The community will also benefit from additional green space for local residents through the development of year-round public areas”. A portion of the center's facilities will also be invisible to the public as it will be built underground.

Photo caption: 1) from left to right: Minister Filomena Tassi, Minister Greg Fergus, Parliamentary Secretary Anthony Housefather

2) Proposed concepts for the Modernized Gatineau Energy Centre

Photo credit: 1) Sonia Roy 2) Courtesy of the Government of Canada.