It's still on the drawing board, but the proposed downtown district energy system has earned city hall the Canadian District Energy Association's municipal green award for 2010.
Mayor Dan Rogers said the city is honoured to receive the award.
"Our proposed downtown district energy would improve air quality through particulate reductions, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide economic benefits for the city, customers, and the community, and move the city toward its sustainability objectives," Rogers said in a press release.
If built, the system will provide heat to buildings downtown through a closed-loop system connected to the wood-waste burner at Lakeland Mills on River Road.
In all, the project will cost $14 million. It will be financed through $6 million in grants from the federal government and other sources, $4.4 million in federal gas tax revenue allocated to the city and $3.7 million borrowed through the Municipal Finance Authority.
The proposal remains subject to successful completion of a federal environmental assessment process and alternate approval process to gain voter consent to borrow the $3.7 million.
The CDEA is an industry association dedicated to promoting the growth of district energy in Canada.
