The concept of generating more of Manitoba’s energy with biomass is heating up.
The provincial government recently announced it will spend $450,000 to develop a biomass energy strategy, study the feasibility of using biomass energy at a Pine Falls paper mill and examine the possibility of using biomass energy at the new Assiniboine Community College under construction in Brandon.
“With innovation, many biomass products are becoming cost competitive with fossil fuels and are more environmentally friendly,” said agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk.
Although it’s not part of the government’s proposal, environmental leaders are also hoping Manitoba Hydro’s coal generating station in Brandon switches to biomass.
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“Brandon, with the coal fired electricity plant, could take a lot of biomass … and use that as a feedstock for the energy plant,” said Ryan Canart, manager of the Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District.
Premier Gary Doer said the government is considering the proposal.
“We’ve asked people to look at it,” Doer said during an April 23 media scrum in Brandon.
“So far I haven’t got any numbers that I can say yes or no with.”
Wowchuk provided a more generic answer.
“Our government is very committed to reducing greenhouse gas, and coal is one of the emitters of greenhouse gas,” she said.
“We will work with big companies, such as Hydro … to help them transition from using the fuel source that they’re using now, to using a fuel source that is renewable.”
The Brandon station is the last remaining coal fired plant in the province. Manitoba Hydro’s station in Selkirk was converted from coal to natural gas in 2003.
