What's This About?
Using wood-based biomass to replace more carbon-intensive energy sources is not a new concept. In forest-rich countries like Sweden, district heating systems powered by wood residuals — ie. branches, sawdust and bark — are used in a zero-waste way to heat entire cities.[14] Even here at home, the Atikokan Power Plant in Ontario was recently converted from coal-fired generation to 100% biomass, providing renewable energy that feeds directly into the grid and can be dispatched whenever Ontario’s power system needs it.
What is novel is the scale. In a country recognized for its sustainable forestry practices, biomass could transform the way we do business, providing renewable, reliable energy for both urban and remote communities while helping other parts of our economy decarbonize.
In 2023, the federal government took the first step to advancing this innovation, encouraging companies to adopt biomass conversion technologies as part of their Investment Tax Credit Program. Now we need legislation for the ITC to pass so that industry can access it. We also need a broader plan to get our country running on this renewable fuel source, powered by a forest sector that is committed to both sustainable practices and zero-waste economy.
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