FORT FRANCES — A corporation owned by 10 First Nations in the District of Rainy River is moving forward with a plan to produce low-carbon transportation fuels from wood waste.
Wanagekong-Biiwega'iganan Clean Energy Corporation (WBCEC) has received $2.25 million from the federal government's Clean Fuels Fund to conduct an engineering study for a commercial plant in Fort Frances.
It would transform waste from the 1.5 million-hectare Boundary Waters Forest – such as bark, sawdust and logging debris – into airline fuel, diesel and naphtha.
The funding announcement was made Tuesday at a joint news conference with Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski.
Chief Janice Henderson of Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, president of WBCEC and president of Boundary Waters Forest Clean Energy Corporation, was not immediately available Wednesday for comment.
But in an article in the Fort Frances Times last month, she was quoted as saying transportation companies, railways, airlines and heavy truck operators are seeking out low-carbon fuel sources to meet tighter emissions regulations.
"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."
WBCEC has partnered with Vancouver-based Highbury Energy Inc., an energy technology innovator.
Powlowski, who attended the news conference on behalf of Energy and Natural Resources Minister John Wilkinson, said "This is a great announcement for a whole bunch of reasons. It is also another example of how the people of Northwestern Ontario will continue to benefit from the green transition."
The traditional territories of the WBCEC's founding First Nations encompass the Boundary Waters Forest.
They include:
- Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing
- Big Grassy
- Couchiching
- Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe
- Mitaanjigamiing
- Naicatchewenin
- Nigigoonsiminikaaning
- Onigaming
- Rainy River First Nations
- Seine River
WBCEC has been working with lumber producers and other stakeholders in the district to secure feedstock for the proposed biorefinery.
