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B.C. DEVELOPS BIOENERGY STRATEGY TO INCLUDE
BEETLE WOOD |
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VICTORIA – The Province is developing a bioenergy strategy to promote new sources of sustainable and renewable energy, and to take advantage of pine beetle-attacked timber.
“The beetle infestation in the Interior represents a potential supply of clean energy for years to come,” said Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman. “A bioenergy strategy fits with our Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan goal to develop new and innovative uses for beetle wood, extending the life of beetle-attacked timber.”
Mountain pine beetle attacked
timber is a potential source of fuel for energy production. A feasibility study, funded by the
provincial government and the BIOCAP Canada Foundation, was published in
November 2005, examining the potential for a mountain pine beetle-fuelled power
plant in the Quesnel or Nazko area.
Last year, the Ministry of Forests and Range announced that TallOil Canada Inc. (formerly CH Anderson and Partners) would use beetle wood harvested from a special tenure in the Prince George and Quesnel timber supply areas to manufacture wood pellets for use as biofuel in European power plants.
The B.C. Wood Bioenergy Strategy will help the province identify new renewable energy resource options, tackle the need for greenhouse gas reduction, deal with growing volumes of surplus pulp chips in the Interior, and increase the use of surplus mill and harvesting wood waste.
“We are in the process of updating our Energy Plan and are looking at ways to advance the use of mountain pine beetle timber for energy production,” said Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld. “In the future, bioenergy will help meet our electricity needs, help create jobs and develop economic opportunities while still protecting our health and environment.”
The challenges and opportunities in developing a wood bioenergy strategy for B.C. will be discussed at the second biennial BioEnergy Conference and Exhibition, being held May 31 and June 1 at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George.
The B.C. Wood Bioenergy Strategy is expected to be completed in September.
For more information about government’s mountain pine beetle action plan, visit www.gov.bc.ca/pinebeetle.
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contact: |
Communications Director Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-8486 |
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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