Sep 23, 2020

Natural Resources Canada invests in multiple biomass projects

Natural Resources Canada has invested in multiple bioenergy projects in Yukon, Northern Ontario, and the Northwest Territories.

The organisation, part of the Canadian Government, is investing in clean energy projects across the territories to work on transitioning Indigenous communities away from diesel by 2030 “while prioritising reconciliation, self-determination, and community-led clean energy projects”.

An investment of $5.4 million (€3.4 million) investment was made in five community-led clean projects in Yukon, including the following bioenergy projects:

$2.1 million (€1.34 million) to Carcross/Tagish First Nation to install a biomass district heating system to displace existing electric and fossil fuel heating systems in five community buildings

$800,000 (€512,000) to Teslin Tlingit Council to build a biomass district heating system for eight new duplexes, including 16 housing units, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs for the community

$345,900 (€221,000) to Kluane First Nation to develop a forest resources management plan for the First Nation settlement lands to meet current and future local biomass heating needs.

An investment of more than $8 million (€5.1 million) was made in eight community-led clean energy projects in the Northwest Territories, including:

$1.7 million (€1.08 million) to the Town of Inuvik to install a biomass heating system to replace the diesel boilers that are currently used for heat and provide freeze protection for the municipal water reservoir

$2.6 million (€1.66 million) to the Tulita Land Corporation to install biomass boilers to heat seven municipal buildings and to establish a forest-based value chain to produce wood chips to fuel the boilers

$2.25 million (€1.44 million) to Nihtat Energy for three projects aimed at replacing diesel-fuelled boilers with biomass heating systems in six public buildings and engaging with Aklavik and other Gwich’in communities in the Northwest Territories to test methods of integrating renewables into isolated grids, while maintaining Indigenous participation and building community knowledge on energy planning processes.

An investment of nearly $13 million (€8.3 million) was made for six projects in Northern Ontario, including:

$1.67 million (€1.07 million) to Askii Environmental to install biomass heating systems in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation and Pikangikum First Nation, which will offset the fossil fuel used to heat schools in these communities

$2.45 million (€1.57 million) to Wikwemikong Development Commission to demonstrate the effectiveness of forest biomass and efficient residential heating sources in Wikwemikong Unceded Territory through the installation of pellet stoves, biomass boilers, wood pellet furnaces and wood pellet storage silos

$2.53 million (€1.62 million) to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation to replace existing woodstove heating appliances in six of the nation’s communities with upgraded high-efficiency woodstoves

$1.05 million (€673,200) to Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek to replace the community’s sawmill diesel heat source with a biomass system and install biomass-compatible heating systems in three new housing units in preparation for future biomass heating expansion