Nov. 3, 2009, Prince George, BC – The BC Bioenergy Network,
a provincially funded industry association supporting the growing bioenergy
sector in British Columbia, has announced funding of $52,500 to Initiatives Prince
George to support the work of the Northern Bioenergy Partnership. The
Partnership is an industry-led collaboration with government, communities, and
the University of Northern B.C. to establish northern B.C. as a leader in the
bioenergy industry. Objectives of the Partnership include attracting further
investment of capital in the bioenergy sector to serve growing demand for
renewable energy globally and establishing an industry-led research initiative
at UNBC.
The Northern Bioenergy Partnership hosted a one-day Northern
Bioenergy Forum on May 5, 2009 at UNBC attended by over 80 participants from
across Canada. The forum combined information exchange with strategic
discussion among program participants and wrapped up with a call to action for
further development of a bioenergy cluster in northern B.C.
“The BC Bioenergy Network has improved how we transfer
research and innovation out of the lab and into the commercial marketplace,”
says Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell. “This will help solidify bioenergy as
a major forest product, as well as achieve key goals for the increased
utilization of wood biomass.”
The economic impact of the bioenergy sector in the region is
important, and this initiative will catalyze further growth. The Prince George
region is currently home to the province’s largest biomass-based power
generation project and two-thirds of Canada’s wood pellet production and export
capacity. Prince George companies have also been successful recipients of
funding from the Innovative Clean Energy fund, making this a natural geographic
location for bioenergy cluster development. Manufacturing and engineering
companies in the Prince George region have expertise that has been exported
across Western Canada in the installation of new co-generation facilities.
“With the support of the BC Bioenergy Network, Prince George
will lead the way in facilitating the growth of a competitive bioenergy cluster
here in Northern British Columbia,” says Tim McEwan, president and CEO of
Initiatives Prince George. He adds, “UNBC’s strength as a research institution
and our region’s current leadership in commercial-scale bioenergy applications
are strategic assets. This initiative will greatly support integrated economic development
for the Province of B.C.”
“We are excited to be working with industry, community, and
academic institutions in the effort to support their development of plans to
create a world-class bioenergy industry in British Columbia,” says Michael
Weedon, executive director of the BC Bioenergy Network. “We look forward to
seeing a number of projects implemented in the north flowing directly from this
collaborative initiative.”
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