OntariO wOOd allOcatiOn annOuncements begin Announcements began for Ontario’s Wood Supply Competitive Process in early February. Of the 30 offers issued, 12 companies have accepted wood supply offers to date, for a total of 945,100 m3/year of wood. The wood allocations will be used for both energy and wood products, including wood pellets, briquettes, firewood, and hog fuel for heat and power production; dimensional and industrial lumber; pallets; and drill core boxes and timbers for the mining industry. Atikokan-based Atikokan Renewable Fuels was awarded 179,400 m3/year of poplar and birch fibre, in addition to an existing offer of 100,000 m3/year.It plans to produce wood pellets for domestic and international Markets. With $1 million in support from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s (NOHFC’s) Enterprises North Job Creation Program, the company is converting a former oriented strand board mill into a wood pellet plant. An additional $250,000 in support is helping to convert the plant’s existing natural gas heating system to woodbased heat through the Northern Energy Program. Atikokan Renewable Fuels is planning to produce 140,000 tonnes/year of pellets, with start-up anticipated at the end of the second quarter of 2011. Rainy Lake Tribal Contracting will be the primary fibre handling and processing contractor at the Atikokan facility, according to Ed Fukushima Of Atikokan Renewable Fuels. A second wood pellet plant will be constructed by Bracebridge- based Muskoka Timber Mills, which was awarded 101,200 m3/year of hardwoods and conifers. The allocation will provide an additional supply of sawlogs to the company’s sawmill, which produces siding, flooring, lumber, millwork and other materials, according to a report in Cottage Country Now.The company plans to build a $15-million pellet plant adjacent to its sawmill to produce 50,000 tonnes/year of pellets. The wood will come from forests managed by Westwind Forest Stewardship, which are Forest Stewardship Council-certified, says the report. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2011. Millson Forestry Service of Timmins, Ontario, was awarded 57,000 m3/year of unmerchantable spruce, pine, and fir, which it will use to make wood briquettes for domestic and international markets. The company is developing a mobile briquette plant with support from NOHFC. The plant will move to harvest areas to access wood biomass left by forestry operations.Millson Forestry Service is a forestry management and contracting company that has been operating in northeastern Ontario since 1980. Ontario received 115 submissions under the provincial wood supply competition from existing and new forest companies. biOenergy cOuncil launched The bioenergy industry in Atlantic Canada has a new voice. The Atlantic Council for Bioenergy Cooperative (ACBC, www.Atlanticbioenergy.com) is a collective of stakeholders and representatives working together to promote the development of a sustainable bioenergy industry in Atlantic Canada, including biofuels, biomass, and biogas. ACBC will operate as a pan-Atlantic association working with all provincial, municipal, and First Nations governments, the federal government, and existing national industry associations. ACBC will collaborate with research facilities and educational institutions, keeping members informed of new technologies and developments. Public meetings, Community presentations, and media relations will help ACBC promote information and policy initiatives advantageous to the continued development of the bioenergy industry. ACBC welcomes input and participation from anyone affiliated with the bioenergy industry who is interested in playing a part in its future. in brieF... Pellet export conference The North American Biomass Pellet Export Conference is being held September 8–9, 2011, in New Orleans.The conference will provide insight and information on all aspects of wood pellet exporting, including market, legal, logistic, and financial issues. It will also provide significant networking opportunities for pellet producers, European utilities, supply chain consultants, international logistics companies, renewable energy lenders, investors, loggers, attorneys, and researchers. Tabletop exhibit space and several sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information or to Register, visit www. Exportingpellets.com. Biomass testing lab opens The Canadian BioEnergy Centre (CBEC, www.unb.ca/fredericton/ forestry/wstc/cbec), a biomass testing laboratory registered with the Pellet Fuels Institute, is officially open.Located at the University of New Brunswick, in Fredericton, the CBEC undertakes research and development, product testing and certification (including pellets and biomass combustion appliances), technology transfer, and training and education.The initial technical focus of CBEC is on solid biofuels and their combustion performance, including energy value and emission characteristics, says the Centre’s website.