Energy Plan - Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Efficiency and Conservation Programs
To encourage reductions in energy consumption through conservation and
increased efficiency, the Provincial Government will establish a series of targeted
programs, following a focused set of consultations. Different energy consumer
categories have very different energy efficiency and conservation needs:
Transportation
Because the transportation sector is our largest consumer of hydrocarbons,
initiatives in this area offer a significant potential for improvements in energy
efficiency and benefits for the environment. However, energy conservation and
efficiency in transportation is a difficult issue, particularly in jurisdictions like
Newfoundland and Labrador with large rural areas. The largest centres in this
province are too small to economically support many forms of mass transit,
such as commuter rail systems. As a result, energy conservation and efficiency
in this sector depends largely on thousands of individual decisions concerning
vehicle purchases, driving habits and distance traveled. As an initial step, the
Provincial Government will consider the implementation of a rebate to encourage
the purchase of highly efficient automobiles such as hybrids and diesels. The
Provincial Government will also investigate additional ways to influence buyers’
choice towards more efficient vehicles, such as sales tax rebates or a scaled
annual license fee for vehicles based on energy efficiency. As a member
of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference,
Newfoundland and Labrador has committed to investigate the adoption of
advanced vehicle energy efficiency standards at the state and provincial level.
The transportation sector also includes aircraft, fishing vessels and ferries
and freight transportation on land and water. We will examine best practices in
these parts of the transportation sector to encourage greater energy efficiency
and conservation. Federal jurisdiction in some parts of the sector will require
national policy decisions, but there are ways that we as a province can act to
reduce energy consumption in this sector. Buying more local products, for
example, provides an opportunity to conserve some of the energy used in the
freight industry.
The Provincial Government will lead by example through a vehicle policy that
Departments “buy what they need,” and by adopting an initial target that 25 per
cent of all cars and SUVs purchased in the next four years will be energy–efficient
vehicles, including, but not limited to, hybrids. This target will be extended to
pickup trucks when the availability of hybrids in this class improves.
POLICY
ACTIONS
Efficiency and Conservation
Programs
The Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador will:
• Consider the implementation
of a rebate program to
encourage the purchase of
hybrids and other
fuel–efficient cars and SUVs.
• Investigate ways to influence
vehicle choice towards more
efficient vehicles.
• Investigate the adoption of
advanced vehicle energy
efficiency standards as
a member of the New
England Governors and
Eastern Canadian Premiers
Conference.
• Continue to implement
transportation conservation
initiatives as outlined in the
Climate Change Action Plan.
• Develop a program to assist
large industrial operations
to perform efficiency/
conservation audits.
• Explore the introduction of
commercial and residential
lighting conservation and
insulation enhancement
programs.
(continued)
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