<b>PELLETS POWER ATIKOKAN</b> Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is officially switching from coal to biomass at its Atikokan, Ontario, generating station. The conversion will create up to 200 construction jobs, support an estimated 20 to 25 jobs in Ontario related to the production of wood pellets, and sustain other jobs in the forestry sector. The project is expected to take up to three years to complete. Once converted, the plant is expected to generate 150 million kWh of renewable power, enough to power 15,000 homes each year. The government of Ontario has directed the Ontario Power Authority to Negotiate an agreement to buy the biomass power generated at Atikokan from OPG, which is a critical step in the process of converting the plant to biomass. The annual wood pellet requirement for the plant is estimated to amount to less than 1% of the total allowable forest harvest in Ontario each year. Atikokan is located approximately 200 km northwest of Thunder Bay. <b>DRYDEN DEVELOPS DISTRICT HEATING</b> Two entrepreneurs in Dryden, Ontario, are partnering with Germanowned Lambion Energy Solutions to create Far North Biomass. According to reports in Northern Ontario Business and the Dryden Observer, Far North Biomass will develop a 2-MW district heating system fuelled by wood pellets and other woody biomass to supply heat to commercial businesses within a 12-km radius. The venture includes a plan to build a wood pellet and briquette plant in Ignace, 100 km east of Dryden, pending the results of the provincial wood supply competition, due this fall. The district heating system, which has an estimated completion date of fall 2011, will supply hot water to commercial buildings that modify their heating systems to accommodate the new system. Surveys have been sent to the surrounding businesses to gauge the interest in joining the district heating system. <b>WOOD NETWORK LINKS BUYERS, SELLERS, INVESTORS</b> Fibre Connections BC, a new British Columbia provincial government service, will directly link fibre suppliers, manufacturers, and investors to streamline the flow of British Columbia’s wood to its highest value use. Under the new network, fibre inquiries or proposals received anywhere by the government will be directed to 1 of 72 fibre officers based in communities across the province. The officers will triage the requests, provide information, and bring together buyers, sellers, and investors where applicable. Requests that cannot be filled immediately will be logged and tracked to ensure they are matched with future opportunities. Fibre Connections BC will work closely with the British Columbia Ministry of Community and Rural Development and resource ministries to ensure that information is coordinated across government and captures all new investment opportunities. “Whether you’re a wood pellet producer looking for chips, or a First Nation, municipal government, or community forest license-holder looking for customers, Fibre Connections BC can help get you in touch with the people you need,” says Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell. A public website will be launched in fall 2010 to support the network.