The Media Room

Natural Resources Canada

2009/71

July 30, 2009

Government of Canada Applauds International Recognition in Energy Efficiency for Canadian Industry

OTTAWA - The Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) has been declared a Champion of Energy Efficiency by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The award was presented at the ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry in Niagara Falls, New York.

“Our Government congratulates CIPEC on this achievement - the first time an organization outside the United States has been awarded this honour,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources. “For 34 years, CIPEC has been a leader in industrial energy efficiency, helping Canada’s environment and reducing energy costs.”

Among 56 nominees, CIPEC was awarded the ACEEE Champion for demonstrating exceptional leadership in the development and implementation of energy efficiency initiatives for industry. CIPEC is a voluntary partnership between the Government of Canada and industry that  represents more than 98 percent of all industrial energy use in Canada — more than 5,000 companies in all.

“The results this partnership has achieved speak for themselves, and show what we can accomplish when we commit ourselves to working together toward a common goal,” said Glenn Mifflin, Chair of the CIPEC Executive Board and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer North Atlantic Refining. “This award belongs to everyone in the CIPEC family, in industry and in government alike, who are truly passionate about improving energy efficiency and reducing harmful emissions including greenhouse gas.”

The Washington, D.C.-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, founded in 1980, is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection.

Energy efficiency is a priority for the Government of Canada. Among other recent initiatives, legislation to modernize and strengthen Canada’s Energy Efficiency Act received Royal Assent in May 2009. The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan invests an additional $300 million in the ecoENERGY Retrofit for Homes program, supporting the efforts of Canadians to reduce their household energy costs and emissions.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Today, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Lisa Raitt congratulated the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) which has been declared a Champion of Energy Efficiency by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  CIPEC is the first organization outside the United States to win an ACEEE award. The ACEEE Champion award recognizes CIPEC for demonstrating exceptional leadership in the development and implementation of important energy efficiency initiatives for industry.

Media may contact:

Jocelyne Turner

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister

Natural Resources Canada

Ottawa

613-996-2007

or

Media Relations

Natural Resources Canada

Ottawa

613-992-4447

The following media backgrounder is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/index-eng.php:

Further information:

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/index-eng.php.