Region touted as bioenergy centre

  Last Updated: Tuesday 12th of May 2009 07:41:52 AM -0600MDT

A newly-formed Northern Bioenergy Partnership is keying on the importance of strengthening a bioenergy cluster in Prince George in order to grow a world-class industry in northern B.C.
The group hosted a one-day forum on Tuesday at UNBC attended by more than 80 participants from across Canada, including from business, government, First Nations, academia and the financial sector.
“Northern B.C. has the potential to be a national bioenergy centre,” said UNBC president Charles Jago.
“This region is already home to many businesses and institutions engaged in bioenergy research, development, manufacturing and engineering," observed Jago. "Together, we are responding to a growing demand for renewable energy and there is a terrific opportunity to build on our existing strengths and create a world-class, knowledge-based bioenergy cluster in Northern British Columbia.”
Prince George itself is home to PacificBioenergy's wood pellet plant, and several new projects expected to start construction soon. Recently, P.G. Interior Waste to Energy Ltd. announced it would build a $50-million bioenergy plant in the BCR industrial site. As well as producing electricity, it will produce charcoal and bio-oil.
Just prior to the provincial election campaign, the B.C. Liberal government announced that UNBC would receive $20 million for a bioenergy plant and environmental Centre of Excellence.
Companies in the Prince George area, including Deltech Manufacturing, which participated in the one-day forum, provided services and equipment to the bioenergy sector.
Other forum participants included Nexterra, Alterna Energy and All North Engineering.
Initiatives Prince George president Tim McEwan noted: “The calibre of participants at this forum speaks to the potential for the development of a world-class, leading-edge bioenergy industry in Northern British Columbia with Prince George at its centre