P.E.I. continues commitment to biomass heating

April 17, 2014, Charlottetown, P.E.I. – Biomass heat is
being used at some government buildings to reducing the province’s fuel costs, according
to Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Robert Vessey.

From November 2013 until mid-March 2014, a biomass plant at
Athena Consolidated School in Summerside saved $12,000 compared to heating with
fuel oil. The savings should increase to $18,000 in future heating seasons
based on the school’s past energy use, and similar results are expected at the
other plants.

Converting to biomass will save the province roughly
$120,000 in heating costs each year. The contracts will have a combined
economic impact of more than $500,000 annually, thanks to the labour and
materials required.

Under the contracts, private-sector companies are required
to design, construct, finance, and operate the biomass plants for 20 years;
government is responsible only for purchasing the heat produced. In addition to
Athena Consolidated School, plants are operating at Community Hospital O’Leary,
Bluefield High School, Three Oaks High School, Maplewood Manor, and Summerside
Intermediate School.

Biomass heat plants burn wood chips that will be produced on
the Island, which reducing the province’s dependence on imported fuels and
decreases greenhouse gas emissions compared with burning fossil fuels. To
further ensure acceptable emission levels, the builders of the biomass plants
are required to meet discharge standards developed in consultation with the
Department of Environment, Labour and Justice.

Two companies, Viessmann – Atlantic Bioheat and Wood4Heating
Canada Inc., are contracted to build 11 more biomass plants in Prince Edward
Island over the next two years.