Ontario funds five northern biomass initiatives

Ontario invests $11.3 million in biomass projects, including Millson Forestry and GreenFirst, to repurpose wood waste and boost forestry sustainability.

Ontario is funneling $11.3 million through its ‘Forest Biomass Program’ to be shared among four recipients, three of which are in the north: Hornepayne Power, Wikwemikong Development Commission and GreenFirst Forest Products in Chapleau.

Officials with GreenFirst Forest Products were in attendance for the announcement Wednesday hosted by Millson Forestry in Timmins.

It’s receiving nearly $3 million to boost productivity, cut costs and improve product quality by upgrading the company’s biomass cogeneration plant.

GreenFirst is also receiving an additional $130,000 to research the use of mill by-products for torrefied pellets, a green alternative to coal.

Michel Lessard, president of GreenFirst Forest Products, said the company must find somewhere for the byproducts it produces -- such as woodchips -- to go.

“We are looking actually to find the best usage … as the pulp paper mills, there’s not many left in the region,” said Lessard.

There are currently only three operating pulp and paper mills left in Ontario, he said, including one in Kapuskasing and it’s critical to maintain them.

“We need some support because … with tariffs, that’s going to go up from 14.4 to 25 per cent. So that, that’s a big step," said Lessard.

“We need to protect the forest industry … we need support from the government.”

Circular Carbon Canada is the fourth recipient.

It’s studying northeast sawmills as potential sites to produce biochar, a substance used in power generation.

Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau said the city has been exploring the possibility of a project where it can utilize that technology.

“For heating purposes for some municipal facilities, some housing, development projects; as well as, there have been discussions with school boards who have some, you know, some facilities in the area … so very exploratory stages,” said Boileau.

“The funding we provide through the biomass program is intended to help the mills and the harvesters to find an alternative use for the biomass that that’s created through the processing and it’s another way that we can help sustain the industry, increase productivity and profitability for the for the forestry sector across all sections of the forestry sector,” said Kevin Holland, associate minister of forestry and forest products.

Ontario’s Forest Biomass Program invests up to $20 million each year in projects throughout the province.