Madison’s: More clean energy funding for remote BC communities

Natural Resources Canada (NRC) recently announced it will award more than $7 million in funding to Indigenous communities in B.C. to support their transition from fossil-fuel to biomass-based heating systems. The funding will be distributed through the NRC’s Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program as part of a $175 million initiative to develop and deploy renewable energy projects to reduce the reliance of remote communities on diesel fuel while also providing a stable, local source of economic growth.

Communities that qualify for full funding under the program must contain at least 10 dwellings, fewer than 1,000 residents, and not be connected to the North American electrical grid or gas pipeline network.

Projects receiving funding include:

• $600,000 for the Kwadacha First Nation to create a novel system to convert sawdust from wood chipping into biomass briquettes to provide local heat;
• $379,000 for Chu Cho Environmental to develop its own wood chip-based biomass energy system;
• $799,000 for the Tsay Keh Dene Nation to build a biomass energy plant;
• $474,000 for Gitxsan Energy Inc. to construct two biomass boilers and convert a community building from propane to biomass;
• $586,000 for Twin Sisters Native Plant Nursery to replace a propane heating system with biomass;
• $661,000 for the Lake Babine Nation to install a biomass-based district heating system;
• $108,000 for Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition to develop a revised energy plan to reduce fossil-fuel consumption;
• $2.3 million for the Tlingit Homeland Energy Limited Partnership to assess the feasibility of expanding local hydroelectric capacity; and,
• $719,000 for the Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation to replace the two diesel generators currently powering the community with a new Combined Heat and Power and battery storage system.

Lignetics acquires Great Lakes Renewable Energy

Colorado-based Lignetics Inc. recently announced the closing of their acquisition of Wisconsin-based Great Lakes Renewable Energy Inc. Great Lakes is a residential wood pellet manufacturer serving over 1,200 customers, specializing in BBQ pellets, and is the only mill that makes a 5.5-millimetre-size pellet. Lignetics is the largest residential wood pellet company in the United States, with 17 manufactories across nine states and one Canadian province.

The company produces residential heating pellets, home grilling pellets, and pet care pellets.