Fanshawe College has received $2.3 million from the federal government in order to fund green research.

“I think Fanshawe has shown significant leadership in green research and technology,” Ed Holder, member of Parliament for London West, said

According to an article in the London Free Press, the money will be used for commercializing green research in order to create jobs and strengthen existing ones.

“We felt [Fanshawe] could not just sustain this but go beyond that,” Holder said. “It will take this and grow with us.”

Holder cited several Fanshawe projects receiving more money, including a solar-powered utility vehicle, a solar-powered de-icing system for parking garages, an efficient wind turbine designed for residences and using organic waste to grow plants in green houses. This funding will also allow for new projects and students to take part in the creation of them.

“Part of the deal is students are involved in the [process] and they’re hands-on projects,” Holder added. “We’re training our students and young researchers to carry this through.”

The five-year grant was provided by the College and Community Innovation Program. After five years Fanshawe may be reassessed for further funding.

The money will also be used to fulfill the provincial mandate that 50 per cent of the province’s wind turbine parts be made in Ontario by 2012 and 60 per cent of solar panel parts for next year.

“It’s important that London is on the frontier of this,” Holder said.

—Fadesola Adedayo