The Government of Ontario has introduced its first-ever Biomass Action Plan.
Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry Greg Rickford says it’s about using the by-products from lumber mills more effectively.
“To have a dynamic forest sector, you need biomass facilities,” explains Rickford. “So the strategy focused on a couple that exists already, one in Atikokan, and maybe one for the future even closer to Kenora.”
Rickford adds with more lumber mills coming online the plan is timely.
“As the forest sector grows, and I think there will be some exciting news on that for Kenora in the not too distant future, we need to ensure the residuals, shavings, and what not have a place to go that aren’t currently used in the forestry operations in northwestern Ontario, and that’s where biomass comes into play.”
The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says the plan promotes the use of biomass, which uses low-quality wood leftover from forestry mills, in new diverse ways, including renewable energy.
