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Getting on the grid
Representatives for Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI) reported at
least 10 applicants had expressed interest in generating electricity
using small biomass projects. The applicants responded to a request
for proposals (RFP) from NSPI in December, calling for up to
10 MW of electricity from independent power producers using clean
biomass. Technical limitations on connections limits the RFP
to small-scale projects. For the complete story, follow the NSPI
biomass link at www.AtlanticFarmer.com.
Grand Falls-Windsor's paper
mill falls silent
A century of papermaking history came to a close on Feb. 5,
when the AbitibiBowater paper mill in Grand Falls-Windsor, Nfld.
& Lab., shut down production. The mill closure, announced
in December, put 450 mill workers and 250 foresters out of work,
not all of whom were eligible for retirement packages. (CBC,
Feb. 12/09)
Reforesting America
The Plow & Hearth Campaign to Reforest America, a yearlong
effort to plant one million new trees in forests across the country,
has already hit the 500,000 seedling milestone. Customers can
choose among one of three U.S. national forests to receive a
seedling, or leave it up to Plow & Hearth to decide. To learn
more, follow the Plow & Hearth link at www.AtlanticFarmer.com.
Comeau lumber mill closes
Comeau Lumber of Meteghan, in southwest Nova Scotia, sent shock
ripples through the region when it announced in late January
that it would close indefinitely. President Greg Shay said with
prices and global demand for lumber continuing to plummet, it
made no sense to keep operating the business, which has served
the region for a century. The closure puts about 60 employees
out of work in an area already reeling from the downturn in the
fishery and tourism industries. (CBC, Jan. 22/09)
Government helps N.B. mills
New Brunswick is providing $14 million in repayable loans to
Irving-owned sawmills in Saint-Léonard and Kedgwick. The
money will be used to assist with modernization and addition
of new equipment and technology to provide high-value lumber
products for sale throughout North America. Upgrades to the facilities
will help secure 520 forestry jobs in northern New Brunswick.
(BNB, Feb. 05/09)
Peat fuel pellet plant operating
in Stephenville
An Ontario-based company is producing peat fuel pellets in Stephenville,
Nfld. & Lab. Peat Resources Ltd. commenced making fuel pellets
in October and is now modifying the facility to ensure greater
production and energy efficiency. One 500-tonne bulk shipment
order will be used in a trial at Ontario Power Generation's Atikokokan
station, a facility mandated to cease coal-burning by 2014. Peat
is considered a sustainable bioenergy resource in Canada. (TWS,
Feb. 06/09)
Softwood lumber complaints
A bipartisan group of nine U.S. senators sent a letter to President
Barack Obama, urging him to take a hard line on supposed violations
of the 2006 softwood lumber agreement during his meeting with
Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Feb. 19. The senators accused
the Harper government of trying to "divert attention"
from Canada's blatantly protectionist lumber practices by complaining
about the "Buy American" provisions in the new U.S
stimulus package. (TGM, Feb. 18/09)
Housing starts lowest since
2001
Concerns about economic uncertainty and job losses have played
a role in an 11 percent fall in new home starts in Canada last
year. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's report points
out that new home construction declined in all five regions of
the country in January, led by 30 percent drops in British Columbia
and the Western prairie provinces. (Bloomberg.com, Feb. 9/09)
Welcome to Atlantica
A report released in December 2008 argues that Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick, and Maine must cooperate to develop an integrated
bioenergy industry for the region, and makes a number of policy
recommendations to ensure that this happens.
The 74-page document is the result of a six-month study conducted
by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the Atlantica BioEnergy
Task Force, which includes educational institutions, major energy
and forest industry players, and the governments of the three
jurisdictions.
"There are opportunities today," says Thor Olesen,
executive director of the project, based in Fredericton, N.B.
"There are large issues to tackle, but you can address them.
We have to develop a will to do it. The study developed options."
For full coverage of the report, go to www.AtlanticFarmer.com
and follow the Atlantica link.
Filling the gaps
A forest biomass feedstock workshop presented by the Fundy Model
Forest (FMF), held February 24 in Fredericton, N.B., helped to
fill some gaps in the knowledge of sustainable supply in New
Brunswick.
"There's been a lot of focus on the harvesting techniques
as well as the facilities that will burn it, but there hasn't
been a whole lot of discussion about the resource," said
Nairn Hay, general manager of the FMF. "We've spent a lot
of time looking at silviculture practices in the past, and this
is an extension of that, to see what we should be doing on the
ground."
Speakers included Natural Resources Canada researcher Dr. Evelyne
Thiffault, Dr. Paul Arp and Jean-Francois Carle from the University
of New Brunswick, and Shawn Morehouse from the Department of
Natural Resources.
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