A groundbreaking ceremony took place at 5 Wing Goose Bay today to mark the beginning of construction on a new central heating plant at the base.

The federal government calls the new heating plant a cornerstone of a $187 million Energy Performance Contract awarded last year, and will move the base off diesel heat and onto the Labrador electrical grid.

The Department of National Defence has secured an additional 20 megawatts of capacity from NL Hydro.

The project is expected to reduce the base’s energy costs by 77 per cent.

Construction on the plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.