Month: July 2025

The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) Board of Directors approved grant funding for the Durham Region Transit’s (DRT) Scaling-up to Zero Emissions Transit in the region of Durham proposal.

Since 2017, DRT has been actively engaged in investigating transit electrification innovation opportunities throughout the region. In November 2019, Durham Region Council committed C$10.1 million (US$7.520 million) in federal gas tax funding towards DRT’s first battery electric buses and charging infrastructure as a pilot project to inform the transition of the region’s transit fleet to zero-emission buses over the next 10 years. This project will be an important step to implement the Durham Community Energy Plan and will demonstrate the region’s position as a leader in reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions.

TAF funding will specifically support DRT in advancing key analysis and design work for the electric bus project, including specifications for the buses and charging infrastructure, and key project components such as training, re-tooling, software and performance monitoring. These are essential steps to support procurement of the vehicles in 2021 and to prepare for their arrival in 2022.

“TAF is supporting Durham Region Transit’s electrification initiative because it’s a key route to zero carbon cities and has many local benefits, including job creation and improved health,” said Julia Langer, CEO, ATF. “Let’s all hop on the electric bus!”

Submitted in partnership with Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (OPUC), as part of the project, DRT will be examining infrastructure requirements and business model best practices, as well as determining specifications for the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of electric bus charging solutions and associated grid upgrades at its Oshawa garage location.

“As a community-minded organization, it’s important that we enable leading energy projects like this,” said Ivano Labricciosa, president and CEO of the OPUC group of companies. “DRT’s efforts will lead to transformative carbon reductions and service improvements across Durham, making us a very proud collaborator and project partner.”

The project will also help inform the design of a new bus depot with the capability to support a 100 percent zero-emission fleet, with design work on the new depot expected to begin in 2021. To achieve this outcome, DRT will gather information while piloting eight battery electric buses and charging technologies. The project will enable DRT to acquire the necessary expertise and data to plan the effective transition of the fleet to zero-emission technologies, and to design its new bus depot to include zero-emission buses.

“Durham Region Transit is excited to be able to explore electric technology options, including battery electric and hybrids, for future fleet acquisitions,” said Bill Holmes, general manager of Durham Region Transit. “We are grateful for the funding provided by TAF and are eager to move forward with informing our plans for a zero-emission fleet at DRT.”

The total TAF grant value is approximately C$195,000 (US$145,340) over two years to support project management requirements for the proposal and is in addition to the previously announced region of Durham contribution from the federal gas tax funding, as part of the region’s commitment to sustainability and addressing the impacts of climate change.

Source: https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/vehicles/hybrid-hydrogen-electric-vehicles/press-release/21141662/durham-region-transit-drt-the-atmospheric-fund-awards-grant-to-drt-for-electric-bus-project

Durham transit is getting another funding boost for its electric bus project.

The Atmospheric Fund (TAF) Board of Directors recently approved $195,000 in funding over two years for the “Scaling-up to Zero Emission Transit in Durham Region” to support Durham Region Transit (DRT) in advancing with their project. Support includes specifications for the buses and charging infrastructure, and key project components such as training, re-tooling, software and performance monitoring, all of which are essential steps to support the procurement of the vehicles in 2021 and to prepare for their arrival in 2022.

“TAF is supporting Durham Region Transit’s electrification initiative because it’s a key route to zero carbon cities and has many local benefits, including job creating and improved health,” says Julia Langer, CEO of TAF.

In November 2019, Durham Region Council committed $10.1 million in federal gas tax funding towards DRT’s first battery electric buses and charging infrastructure. The funding is part of a pilot project to transform the region’s transit fleet to zero emission buses over the next 10 years.

The project will also help with the design of a new bus depot with the capability to support a 100 per cent zero emission fleet, with design work on the new depot expected to begin in 2021.

As part of the project, in partnership with Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (OPUC), DRT will be examining infrastructure requirements and business model best practices, as well as determining specifications for the design, build, finance, operations and maintenance of electric bus charging solutions and associated grid upgrades at its Oshawa garage location.

OPUC President and CEO Ivano Labricciosa says Durham transit is looking to shrink its carbon footprint, noting Oshawa Power is proud to help bring Durham Region and the people of Oshawa to that forefront.

According to Labricciosa, scaling-up to zero emission transit over the next 10 years is expected to save an estimated 450 Mega Tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases between now and 2030.

“As a community-minded organization, it’s important that we enable leading energy projects like this,” says Labricciosa. “DRT’s efforts will lead to transformative carbon reductions and service improvements across Durham, making us a very proud collaborator and project partner,” he adds.

With a goal of transitioning to a fleet of nearly 200 buses to zero-emission technology by 2030, DRT will implement the first round of eight battery electric buses and charging technologies to gather information and will enable DRT to acquire the necessary expertise and data to plan the effective transition of the fleet to zero-emission technologies, and to design its new bus depot to include zero-emission buses.

“Durham Region Transit is excited to be able to explore electric technology options, including battery electric and hybrids, for future fleet acquisitions,” says DRT General Manager Bill Holmes. “We are grateful for the funding provided by TAF and are eager to move forward with informing our plans for a zero-emission fleet at DRT.”

Source: https://oshawaexpress.ca/durham-transit-acquires-funding-for-electric-bus-project/

The City of Oshawa is moving forward with efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.

It’s teamed up with Oshawa Power to implement a new 600-kilowatt combined heat and power plant, which will be installed at the Delpark Homes Centre.

It will save the energy equivalent of 4,000 homes over its lifetime, the city said in a press release.

Deputy mayor Bob Chapman says the generator will provide “more efficient heating and cooling and less costly electrical prices, at the same time reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.”

The initiative, approved by council, has been a top priority for a while.

“From the council perspective, we’ve taken a position to say what we’re doing in areas like this and other areas, we have to have that environmental lens on it,” Chapman said.

That sentiment was echoed by Durham regional chair John Henry.

“It’s an entirely new way of how we’re going to deal with the challenges of the future related to climate,” he said.

The power plant will be fuelled by natural gas. Although it is not 100 per cent renewable energy, it will be able to generate electricity and heat simultaneously.

It will also generate its own backup heat and electricity during a power outage.

“It’s a lower carbon footprint than it may otherwise be with just natural gas boilers, so it just makes common sense and it’s smart,” Oshawa Power’s CEO Ivano Labricciosa said.

The project isn’t just smart for its energy efficiencies, but for the city’s economic savings as well.

“The city can actually have an emergency shelter without actually putting the investment in,” Labricciosa said.

“It does create economic winds for them on both the price they pay for gas, because we’re buying in larger bulk and volume, than they would otherwise buy for this particular centre.”

The $3-million investment will be owned, operated and maintained by Oshawa Power. The system is expected to be up and running by the end of this year. City officials say it will have a lifetime of seven to eight years before it has to be replaced.

Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/6453201/oshawa-new-energy-project/

Oshawa, Ontario – EnerFORGE, along with equity partner, Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative (OREC), have announced the acquisition of a portfolio of Ontario-based renewable energy assets. These assets, located in Bruce and Huron Counties, have been added to the growing EnerFORGE distributed energy operating platform and are an exciting investment for both partners as they continue to forge ahead with the future of renewable energy generation growth in Ontario. This acquisition marks EnerFORGE’s entry into the wind generation space and adds 10 commercial scale solar installations to their current portfolio.

“The partnership with OREC was a perfect match when the opportunity to acquire solar and wind generation assets presented itself. For Oshawa Power and EnerFORGE the acquisitions are in line with the company’s strategic growth objective of expanding its renewable energy asset portfolio. This acquisition will increase Oshawa Power’s installed solar capacity by about 30%, while diversifying the company’s generation portfolio with the addition of the first utility-scale wind asset to the portfolio,” stated Ivano Labricciosa, President and CEO of Oshawa Power Group of Companies.

“EnerFORGE is a leader in the Ontario renewable energy, cleantech, and energy transition space, and as a company we recognize it is not only core to our company’s strategy, but also that it is the right thing to do,” noted Scott Barker, Vice President, Business Development, EnerFORGE.

“OREC is excited to bring its co-operative ownership model to this wind turbine in partnership with EnerFORGE. Our co-operative is committed to welcoming members and investors from the surrounding communities and stay true to our principles of local ownership and continuing to diversify our growing renewable energy portfolio,” announced Graham Findlay, Vice President, OREC.

Fogler Rubinoff, The Redstone Company, and WSP Canada acted as EnerFORGE’s advisors on this transaction.

Media Contact:

Josh McCulloch

jmcculloch@opuc.on.ca

Collaborative infrastructure efforts set the stage to support electrification in the Durham Region and beyond.

EnerFORGE, part of the Oshawa Power Group of Companies, has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to become a minority shareholder in Brass Inc., a turnkey utility solutions organization in the Greater Toronto Area. This marks an early and significant milestone in delivering on the Group’s newly launched 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. EnerFORGE is focused on new partnerships with customers, community, and service delivery companies to enable strategic developments. Partnership with Brass initiates the commitment to delivering on the strategic priority of civil and infrastructure investment, as well as to further industry knowledge, workforce development, and support regional economic growth.

The collaboration between Brass Inc. and EnerFORGE anticipates synergies to expand the value proposition, promote and strengthen customer relationships, and leverage joint capabilities to enable scalable growth. Doug Proska, Managing Director of EnerFORGE (right) will join Adam Riewald, President (left) and Cody Newell, Chief Operating Officer, on the Brass Inc. Board to support in realizing synergies and growth execution.

Brass Inc., widely recognized for its expertise in supporting utilities with General Contracting in hydro, communication and underground solutions, will continue to deliver safe, efficient solutions tailored to meet evolving needs.

Quick Facts

• Oshawa Power Group of Companies Strategic GRID Priorities (Growing Green Energy and Services, Realigning Priorities to Achieve Consistent Stakeholder Value, Investing in Civil & Infrastructure Services and Delivering through a High Performance Environment) outlines a vision to be a trusted partner and leader in the energy sector today and tomorrow.
• Facilitating economic growth is a central theme of Ontario’s Electrification and Energy Transition Panel to prepare for electrification and the energy transition.
• Enhanced planning and development will better meet fast-growing demands from the Integrated Energy Plan.
• EnerFORGE was supported by advisors; MNP Corporate Finance Inc. and Fogler, Rubinoff LLP.

Quotes

“This investment reflects a partnership and commitment to being a trusted partner and a leader in the energy sector, while supporting the Government of Ontario’s efforts to deliver on electrification and expand and deliver more energy projects across the province, recently outlined in the new Integrated Energy Plan.”

– Daniel Arbour, President & CEO, Oshawa Power Group of Companies

“This partnership is about working with the right people to make a meaningful impact. We intend to create lasting relationships built on trust and quality services. The opportunities are there and we intend to meet them head on.”

– Doug Proska, Managing Director, EnerFORGE

“Brass Inc. is a family and legacy business and EnerFORGE has demonstrated they mirror our values. We recognize the market is evolving and this partnership further enables Brass to evolve with it.”

– Adam Riewald, President, Brass Inc.

About EnerFORGE

EnerFORGE focuses on intelligent positioning to provide value to its customers. EnerFORGE develops, owns, and operates infrastructure as well as provides ancillary utility services. EnerFORGE owns and operates electric vehicle chargers, solar, wind, renewable natural gas plant and combined heat and power systems to support decarbonization. EnerFORGE operates one of the largest district energy systems in Ontario for Toronto Community Housing providing cost effective and low carbon energy.

About Brass Inc.

For over two decades, Brass has set the standard for hydro excavation, core drilling, directional drilling, and industrial vacuum services in the greater Toronto area. Utility, telecommunications and manufacturing companies rely on their outstanding safety record and ability to consistently deliver superior results on time and on budget.

Media Contact

ecommunications@enerforge.ca