Chickadee Creek Energy Inc., an Edmonton, Alberta-based company specializing in biomass-energy technologies, and forest products manufacturer Millar Western are proposing the construction of a 24-megawatt biomass-energy facility near Whitecourt, Alberta using gasification technology. Gasification technology produces a synthesis gas that directly fires a gas turbine to generate electricity. The plant would potentially use 272 tons per day of wood waste from Millar Western’s timber harvesting and manufacturing operations. By using the residual woody material on-site, Millar Western would eliminate 8,000 truckloads annually leaving its facilities.
Millar Western is seeking to amend its environmental permit under Canada’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Project director Jack Joys says that once funding for the approximately $100-million project is in place, in addition to public approval and permit amendments, construction on the site could begin as early as this September. Pending this start date, the facility would be operational by early 2011. Millar Western operates sawmills in Whitecourt, Boyle and Fox Creek, Alberta.
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