Prince George, B.C.- B.C. Hydro’s electricity purchase agreements with two Prince George bio mass energy producing projects have been  accepted by the B.C. Utilities commission.

 

The two, Canfor Pulp Ltd. Partnership's project  and  PG Interior Waste to Energy Ltd.'s project  are among four which B.C. Hydro developed purchase agreements. The other two are : Domtar Pulp and Paper Products Inc.'s project in Kamloops, and Zellstoff Celgar Ltd. Partnership's project in Castlegar. Together, all four will produce 579 gigawatt hours of electiricty per year, that’s enough electricity to power more than 52 thousand homes.

 

"Bioenergy will contribute to the province's goal of achieving electricity self-sufficiency by 2016, while at the same time provide an opportunity to create new jobs and diversify the forest economy through the better use of residual wood that currently goes to waste," said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

"These bioenergy projects will provide firm electricity year-round byutilizing a carbon-neutral fuel – giving us another reliable, clean energy supply option to help serve our customers," said BC Hydro president and CEO Bob Elton.

 

The bioenergy facilities will use forest-based biomass, including sawmill residue, logging debris, trees killed by mountain pine beetle, and other residual wood, to generate electricity.

 

 Two of the projects – Canfor's and Domtar's – are expected to begin supplying electricity shortly, while the other two projects are under development.