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“Government is committed to creating opportunities to replace fossil fuels with renewable and domestically produced alternatives,” said Minister Brown. “The expansion of biomass heat will create significant environmental benefits while strengthening our economy and our rural communities.”

Atlantic Bioheat will supply biomass-based heat to M.E. Callaghan and Hernewood Junior High Schools. Three Oaks High School, Bluefield High School and the O’Leary Community Hospital will be supplied with biomass-derived heat from Wood4heating.

Demonstrating biomass technologies in public buildings is a recommendation contained in both the Prince Edward Island Energy Strategy and the Climate Change Strategy.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal called for tenders on the project.

“By replacing five existing heating systems with biomass-based heat, we are reducing our carbon footprint and improving our environment,” said Minister Ron MacKinley. “We expect to save money in the long run while using renewable fuels readily available on Prince Edward Island.”

Developing biomass heating pilot projects is also a recommendation of the Environmental Advisory Council and the Public Forest Council Joint Working Group on Biomass Heat.

The contractors are responsible for the capital costs of installation and operation of the heating units in the public buildings.

Forest feedstock used to produce biomass heat must be harvested in a sustainable manner from woodlots with a registered forest management plan. Forestry products used to produce biomass heat include firewood, wood chips and sawdust. The contractors are required to use local resources and create local expertise with biomass.

Minister Brown said government will look at a further expansion of biomass-heating projects in the future.