Federal government announces $13.5M to advance forest technologies and mfg. in B.C.

PRINCE GEORGE — At the 21st annual B.C. Natural Resources Forum, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a contribution of $13.5 million to two forest industry transformation projects and six clean energy projects in British Columbia. These eight projects have been funded through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program and the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program.

Projects funded through the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program include:

• $1.9 million for Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government’s Nemiah Valley Renewable Microgrid Project: This project will demonstrate the integration of a solar and battery energy storage system onto the diesel microgrid to utilize local resources to produce energy for the central and west communities.
• $2.5 million for Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government’s Klokon Creek/Augers Lake Small Hydroelectric Front-end Engineering and Design Study: This study will result in a shovel-ready project to generate hydropower on Klokon Creek utilizing Augers Lake for storage. The hydropower system will be integrated with the renewable energy microgrid to further reduce diesel generation in the central and west communities of Nemiah Valley.
• $1.1 million for Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation’s Yuquot Wave Energy Demonstration project: This project will design a 100kW wave energy plant that would integrate with a microgrid to displace current diesel fuel use of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations residents and visitors at Yuquot, B.C.
• $1.3 million for Yourbrook Energy Systems Ltd’s Kamdis Tidal Power Demonstration Project Phase I: The objective of this project is to conduct a design study for a 500kW tidal energy generation system combining pumped hydroelectric storage to displace diesel with clean, reliable and firm power generation on the north grid of Haida Gwaii.
• $166,700 for Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition: The project will support building community capacity for long-term clean energy solutions and alternatives to fossil fuels for heat and electricity within the Upper Skeena region in British Columbia.
• $1.5 million for FPInnovations’ Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Academy Project: This project will develop an equal opportunity capacity-building program that provides practical training in the areas of biomass combined heat and power (Bio-CHP) operation and maintenance, and biomass supply chains.

Projects funded through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program include:

• $500,000 for Daizen Joinery Ltd’s Wood Fibre Stabilization Project: Located in Kamloops, B.C., this project involves a new proprietary wood stabilization process suitable for materials such as under-utilized species that are typically difficult to dry and process. It will demonstrate the application of these new technologies and treatments, which will be the first of their kind in North America.
• $4.5 million for Kalesnikoff Mass Timber’s Robotic Processing Line Project: This South Slocan, B.C. project will drive mass timber products further up the innovation curve by deploying a new robotic processing line for enhanced mass timber products with superior acoustic and moisture-resisting performance. This process will help overcome existing technical challenges faced with conventional mass timber products, supporting Canada’s efforts to reduce the GHG emissions associated with our built environment.

These projects will help to lower emissions while simultaneously driving economic growth and creating good, sustainable jobs in communities across B.C.

While in Prince George to attend the 21st annual B.C. Natural Resources Forum, Minister Wilkinson also toured the Tidewater Refinery, the main refinery in the B.C. interior, and held productive meetings with a number of stakeholders across the resource sectors.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to support a competitive and sustainable future for the forest sector as well as clean energy development and deployment across B.C. Through these nine projects, Canada is advancing its commitment to sustainable economic growth, cleaner energy for communities and lower emissions across the province. This is good news for our environment, good news for our economy and good news for British Columbians,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.