$150,000 awarded to support First Nation biomass heating project

The territorial government of Yukon, Canada, has given $150,000 (EUR 140,000) in support of a First Nation community’s biomass project, according to a news release.

Yukon’s Teslin Tlingit Council is currently converting ten community buildings from propane and electrical heating to biomass heating. The money from the territorial government will be used to contribute to the labour costs of installing and converting the buildings.

As well providing energy for heating, the woodchip fuelled boilers will offer employment to the First Nation.

“This project will create approximately 12 months or more of employment for 23 people during the construction phase, along with additional ongoing future employment opportunities once fully operational”, according to the press release.

Brad Stoneman, who is on the Teslin Tlingit Council’s project team, told CBC: "It provides the opportunity, a local opportunity, for entrepreneurs to provide the wood chips under contract, for example to the project,"

"We are not too sure... just how we will measure it at this point, but it provides that local opportunity."

Yukon’s government says the project includes the purchase and installation of a district heating system, as well as the expansion of already present wood processing operations through both upgrades and the purchase of new equipment.

The investment in the biomass facility is part of more than $1 million (EUR 932,000) recently awarded to eight community organisations through the Government of Yukon’s Community Development Fund.