• We exist to convert forest…

• We exist to convert forest biomass, sawmill residuals and underutilized and unmerchantable fibre to a usable form for energy, both heat and power; Ontario’s continued commitment to the consumption of biomass is important to our business and those in the region. Without continued access to biomass raw material our 50+ full time jobs would not exist in this region.
• We support Ontario’s initiative to continue using and increasing use of biomass
• By renewing its directive to the Independent Electricity System Operator to maintain or increase its electricity supply from biomass markets, Ontario will continue to support the consumption of biomass.
• Forest biomass has played an important role in forest and mill operations since the industry’s beginning
• Opportunities exist to substantially enhance forest biomass consumption in processes and facilities that already have the necessary infrastructure and equipment in place (e.g., cogens, MDF facilities, engineered soils, biofuels and mulch)
• Biomass can also become a significant cost centre and environmental issue for operations (e.g., landfilling, slash pile burning) without a strong market to consume it
• Although most new opportunities for innovative products are many years away, it is good to be planning for those opportunities now and the action plan addresses this
• Burning forest biomass for the production of heat and power is the most effective way to consume significant biomass volumes
• The only major market for this power is the provincial grid
• We are very supportive of recommendation 2:1 to ensure that existing biomass facilities have access to this market at fair pricing
• We would also encourage the expansion of this use of biomass to increase overall consumption and create further opportunities
• The health of biomass-consuming facilities is key to supporting the entire integrated forest sector
• Without a market for mill residual biproducts, sawmills and other provincial mills will not have an outlet for these products
• And without a market for low grade products and species from the forest, many forest areas could not be harvested, thereby locking up other timber from these areas – preventing sawmillers from meeting a new and increased demand for dimensional lumber and other specialty products.
• This will assist forest managers in achieving the objectives of forest management plans and improving the sustainability of our managed forests
• A lack of markets for low-grade products has a detrimental impact on the potential to put more wood to work in the province, which is a key objective of Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy
• The ability to consume large volumes of biomass in residual form and directly from the forest is key to building a sustainable, circular bioeconomy in Ontario
• The resulting electricity is green, low-carbon, sustainable, and contributes positively to mitigating climate change
• The growing market for biomass allows us to be efficient in harvest operations, maximize road infrastructure and optimize fibre use coming from the forest.
• We employee over 70 people in the harvest operations; this is only sustainable because of the access to biomass markets
• As a full-service, modern harvesting contractor, we produce a variety of products from the forest, from logs for sawmills, to pulpwood for pulp and paper mills, to biomass for the production of heat and power.
• In the last decade, biomass has created new opportunities to expand our business, creating new jobs and expanding revenue
• But just as important, the ability to market biomass produced from lower grade trees and species has allowed us to harvest many areas that otherwise would not be viable
• This not only expands our business in biomass, but it also allows us to generate additional sawlog and other higher value products from these otherwise inaccessible timber stands
• With no outlet for lower quality trees, our operations would shrink dramatically, threatening the overall business and reducing employment levels
• I would urge the biomass action plan to maintain current markets for low-grade products, and develop actions to expand this market to further enhance forest operations
• Thank you for recognizing the importance of this fibre source in our economy in the Biomass Action Plan.