Power plant could burn biomass, says union
November 15, 2012
By CBC.ca
November 15, Thunder Bay, ON – The Power Workers Union says Ontario Power Generation should look at converting the Thunder Bay Generating Station to burn forest biomass.
“We see it as a viable option, in addition to using gas from a gas conversion,” union president Don MacKinnon told CBC.ca . “It brings the forestry products folks into the picture.”
The coal-fired plant was supposed to be converted to gas, but Ontario Power Generation stopped work earlier this month pending a review of the region’s electricity needs by the Ontario Power Authority. The future of the plant and some 130 jobs remains in doubt. Area delegates met with the Energy Minister Chris Bentley on Tuesday to discuss the plant’s future.
The OPG station in Atikokan is already being converted to burn biomass and is expected to be ready in 2014.
But Bill Mauro, the Member of Provincial Parliament whose riding includes both communities, doubts that both plants could make the switch.
Mauro questions whether there would be enough wood pellets to fuel two plants in the northwest.
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