FORT FRANCES — A decision could be made this spring on a venture that could that could see a revolutionary new industry take root in Fort Frances.
Work is already underway to assess the viability of a biofuel plant. A location on the northeastern corner of McIrvine Road and 8th Street West is being considered, and an 80-acre plot has been selected, with environmental testing ongoing to ensure the site will be appropriate.
In a media event on Jan. 7 at Seven Generations Education Institute's Rainy Lake campus, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski made the announcement of $2.5 million that will be going to Wanagekong-Biiwega'iganan Clean Energy Corporation (WBCEC). The investment from the federal government will help fund the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase of a project that is working to establish an industrial plant that will turn local wood waste into low-carbon fuels.
WBCEC is an entity made up of the ten local First Nation communities in the southern end of Treaty #3 working in partnership with Vancouver-based Highbury Energy Inc.
Highbury Energy CEO Len Bykowski said the FEED is one of the first steps along the path to opening the facility. They have so far completed a feasibility study for the project, and that this is the next phase. If all goes according to plan, he said the work should be completed by March or early April of this year, which would allow a financial investment decision to be made in May.
“We're already well into the (FEED) phase of it, and all indications are looking good,” Bykowski said.
“Solid green lights going forward. Based on a successful outcome in the middle of April, then the investment decision to move forward on the project overall can then be made. Once that's made in probably May of 2025, then immediately the financing has to be completed and concluded for that project, because now you've got all your ducks in a row. Then once that's done, then an EPC [engineering, procurement and construction] contractor is engaged.”
Bykowski said that phase and the final engineering work for the project should be complete by the end of 2025, which would allow a groundbreaking in early 2026 and “15 to 18 months beyond that” for the final construction, as the plant itself will be of a modular design. If all goes according to plan, Bykowski said the plant would be up and running for mid-2027.”
Bykowski said the decision to work with the WBCEC came from the regions willingness to participate with new businesses. Highbury Energy first conducted talks with the Town of Fort Frances to see if they would be willing to host such a plant, with Bykowski noting they found municipal representatives to be open and receptive to the idea. Then, as the area First Nation communities had representation for how the Boundary Waters forest could actually be used, it was determined the best way forward for everyone was to work with all of the First Nations through the WBCEC.
“The fact is that there was a lot of work done on the ground in terms of engaging with the First Nations, and that was all sort of covered,” Bykowski said.
“They've all sort of come to the come to the realization that this is a great economic opportunity for them, plus it's an opportunity to address the environment, plus it's an opportunity, from an economic perspective, to start generating revenue for the individual First Nations.”
In a previous press release from the WBCEC, president and Mitaanjigamiing First Nation Chief Janice Henderson noted the high demand for biofuels across different industries and the benefits that demand could have for the region.
“Transportation companies, railways, airlines, and heavy truck operators are increasingly seeking low-carbon fuel sources to meet stricter emissions regulations,” Henderson said.
“Our proposed biorefinery could sustainably produce 20 million litres of low-carbon fuels annually using regional wood waste, offering both environmental benefits and competitive pricing for these sectors.”
According to Powlowski, who was making the announcement on behalf of federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Johnathan Wilkinson, the $2.5 million investment comes from the Natural Resources Canada Energy Innovation Program (EIP) and the Clean Fuels Fund.
“The aim of both of these funds is to enable the shift to more affordable, lower carbon fuels, lower carbon meaning that for the burn and energy, there is less new carbon put into the atmosphere, and this is in an effort to further develop high potential, alternative energy sources, one of those being hydrogen,” said Powlowski.
The study for a commercial fuel plant in Fort Frances, which will aim to produce renewable, low-carbon intensity transportation fuel, “including sustainable airline fuel, renewable diesel and renewable naphtha using wood waste and fibre from the Boundary Waters forest,” he said.
“The idea of low carbon fuels is, you're using existing carbon which is already in the ecosystem as a fuel source, rather than taking it out of the ground and producing new carbon that's going into the air.”
Powlowski noted he felt that the shift in industry to green technologies like biofuel production is a modern equivalent to the industrial revolution, meaning those who get in on the ground floor of the technology will be able to leverage it to their advantage economically.
He noted that when mills closed in the region, some of those who lost their jobs turned to the oilsands in Alberta for work, adding that new facilities like the proposed biofuel plant would help to create jobs that would keep people in the region.
Fort Frances Times / Local Journalism Initiative
