Feds investing over $12M in biomass projects in Northern Ontario
September 22, 2020 | By HPAC Magazine
Six new projects are aimed at reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, particularly diesel, within Indigenous communities and demonstrating the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of biomass for heating and energy production.
The Government of Canada has announced nearly $13 million in funding for six projects in Northern Ontario all aimed at reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, particularly diesel fuels, within Indigenous communities to decrease emissions and demonstrate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of biomass projects for heating and energy production.
The six projects and funding amounts include:
- $1,670,000 to Askii Environmental Inc. to install biomass heating systems in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation and Pikangikum First Nation, which will offset the fossil fuel used to heat schools in these communities;
- $2,452,750 to Wikwemikong Development Commission to demonstrate the effectiveness of biomass and efficient residential heating sources in Wikwemikong Unceded Territory through the installation of pellet stoves, biomass boilers, wood pellet furnaces and wood pellet storage silos;
- $2,532,000 to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation to replace existing woodstove heating appliances in six of the nation’s communities with upgraded high-efficiency woodstoves, which will reduce fossil fuel heating use by lowering demand on the community’s diesel-generated electricity supply;
- $1,051,000 to Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek to replace the community’s sawmill diesel heat source with a biomass system and to install biomass-compatible heating systems in three new housing units in preparation for future biomass heating expansion, which will demonstrate the economic development benefits and cost-effectiveness of biomass heating;
- $4,168,000 to Sagatay Cogeneration LP to develop engineering plans for a biomass cogeneration system, which, once constructed, would reduce the community’s dependence on diesel fuel for heat and electricity; and
- $983,000 to Wahgoshig First Nation to install a forest-based biomass heating system for four community buildings — the Community Firehall, Lands and Resources Office, Community Centre and Community Elder’s Residence.
Funding for these projects comes from the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program: BioHeat Stream. The six-year, $220-million program aims to reduce reliance on diesel in rural and remote communities by deploying and demonstrating renewable energy, encouraging energy efficiency and building local skills and capacity.
