Ontario Invests in Modernization of Forestry Operations

On Wednesday, Ontario announced that it was providing CA$11.3 million to support projects that innovate and modernize forestry operations in Northeastern Ontario.

The funds will support five projects through its Forest Biomass Program, which the province says will create jobs, increase productivity, and identify new revenue streams.

The government’s investment is supporting projects related to underused wood and mill by-products, known as forest biomass. The recipients include:

• Hornepayne Power Inc. will receive $7.5 million to upgrade power generation equipment at its plant and support research into on-site green hydrogen production.
• GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. is receiving nearly $3 million to upgrade its biomass cogeneration plant and an additional $130,000 to research the use of mill byproducts for torrefied pellets.
• Circular Carbon Canada Inc. is receiving $500,000 to study northeast sawmills as potential sites for pyrolysis plants, which use forest biomass to produce biochar (a substance used in power generation, soil amendment, and water filtration).
• Wikwemikong Development Commission is receiving $200,000 to support the development of a combined wood pellet and biocoal facility by assisting with permitting, contracting, business development, and community engagement.

The Forest Biomass Program invests up to $20 million each year in projects to increase wood harvest, create forest sector opportunity, and find new uses for wood in collaboration with stakeholders, industry, and Indigenous communities.