The Whitesand First Nation, near Armstrong, announced March 3 it plans to open a value-added saw mill and wood pellet manufacturing plant with a combined heat and power biomass facility.
The pellet plant could produce as much as 88,000 tonnes of pellets a year for residential pellet stoves and industrial boiler. They're aiming on supplying Ontario Power Generation plants mandated to get off coal by 2014.
A proposed four megawatt power plant will provide electricity for the communities of Whitesand, Armstrong and Namaygoosisagagun.
The heat from the plant will be used to dry lumber and wood pellets
Partners in the venture include the Armstrong Resource Development Corp., Confederation College, Lakehead University, and FP Innovations.
"This project will serve as a model to other northern communities wishing to develop long-term employment opportunities and energy self-sustainability," said Brian Kurikka, manager of Confederation College's forestry centre.
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