Province tells Nova Scotia Power to burn more wood to generate electricity

Nova Scotia is taking steps to increase the use of biomass in the province’s electricity production. The government has directed Nova Scotia Power to ramp up biomass use immediately and continue for the next two years. This new regulation requires the utility to use 160 gigawatt hours of biomass each year until 2027, up from the previous directive of 135 gigawatt hours per year until 2025.

Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau explained that the increase in biomass use is aimed at getting more renewable energy onto the grid while waiting for additional wind and solar projects to come online. He emphasized the benefits of using natural resources, such as forestry byproducts, to fuel cleaner electricity and support the green economy.

The use of biomass as a source of electricity has raised some concerns, particularly from environmental groups like the Ecology Action Centre. Ray Plourde, a representative from the organization, criticized the government’s decision, stating that burning forest biomass is not a clean or green solution. Plourde argued that the carbon-neutral argument for biomass overlooks the long-term impact on forest ecology and biodiversity.

Despite these concerns, the forestry industry in Nova Scotia has welcomed the news. Todd Burgess, executive director of Forest Nova Scotia, highlighted the abundance of forestry residuals in the province and the need for new markets to utilize this resource. The closure of the Northern Pulp mill in 2020 created a demand for alternative buyers of low-grade wood, making increased biomass use by Nova Scotia Power a favorable development for woodlot owners.

Burgess acknowledged that while the new regulation is a positive step, more efforts are needed to support the forestry industry. He suggested exploring opportunities for combined heat and power plants connected to district heating networks as a way to make the electricity grid more reliable and sustainable.

Overall, Nova Scotia’s decision to increase biomass use in electricity production reflects a balance between environmental concerns and economic considerations. By leveraging forestry byproducts for energy generation, the province aims to support both the green economy and the forestry industry’s sustainability goals.