Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the German chancellor are visiting the western Newfoundland town of Stephenville late today, where they are set to sign a green energy deal. A local company plans to build a zero-emission plant that will use wind power to produce hydrogen and ammonia for export. Hydrogen is seen as a critical element of Europe’s plan to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine and recent cuts in Russian gas supplies to Germany and other countries. Cabinet ministers and German businessmen will join Trudeau and Olaf Scholz at a hydrogen trade show in Stephenville this afternoon. The city’s mayor, Tom Rose, said in an interview that he believes the location and existing infrastructure make it an ideal location for such a venture, and the area is poised to be “the green energy hub of North America.” Scholz and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is in charge of the country’s energy portfolio, are visiting Canada for three days this week. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 23, 2022.
