VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (Marketwired) — 10/30/14 — Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.
Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, rose in the BC Legislature Wednesday, October 22nd to introduce eight BC leaders in the development of Bioenergy. Respecting the sombre atmosphere of the House, in light of the frightening shooting events at the Federal Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, earlier in the day, Minister Bond said,
“I know that our hearts and minds are in other places today, but it is National Bioenergy Day today.”
Minister Bond introduced each of the eight individuals attending the session and then asked the members of the assembly to “make these guests most welcome”.
Representing the BC Bioenergy Network were: Michael Weedon, Executive Director, Darren Frew, Marnie Plant, and Dr. Scott Stanners. Joining the BC Bioenergy Network were Dr. Ranjana Bird, Vice-President Research at University of Northern BC, Jerry Ericsson, President of Diacarbon Energy, Brad Bennett, Vice-President of Operations at Pacific BioEnergy, and Dr. Bryan Imber, President of International Composting Corporation.
Bioenergy Day is a national awareness raising program based in the United States, launched in 2013. As the Biomass Thermal Energy Council website states, “It is a day of advocacy for all kinds of heat and power generated by woody biomass and agricultural waste, from large-scale utilities to home heating stoves… it is an event uniting all aspects of the bioenergy supply chain, including foresters, landowners, manufacturers, power producers and consumers. Last year National Bioenergy Day yielded 25 events in 14 states. Biomass facilities and universities hosted hundreds of visitors.” Many more open house events are planned for this year.
This is the first year that National Bioenergy Day is being recognized in BC. The Day was also recognized in Prince George. The University of Northern BC took the opportunity to provide an update to local media regarding Phase Three of its Sustainable Communities Demonstration Project, an enhancement of the university–s existing bioenergy heating system that adds student residences, the campus daycare, and the Enhanced Forest Lab buildings on to the grid. As well, a local TV station, CKPG, in Prince George, aired a feature story on UNBC–s Bioenergy Addition:
About BC Bioenergy Network
Established in April 2008 with a $25 million grant from the BC government, BC Bioenergy Network is an industry-led association that acts as a catalyst for deploying near-term bioenergy technologies and organizing mission-driven research for the development and demonstration of new bioenergy technologies that are environmentally appropriate for the province of BC. BC is well positioned to become a major player in the global bioenergy sector. The province is steward to one of the largest forested areas in the world, and a leader in biomass to value-added wood products. BC Bioenergy Network will provide the leadership to make BC a world leader in developing and marketing wood-to-bioenergy and other bioenergy technologies. For more information about BCBN, visit
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Contacts:
BC Bioenergy Network
Michael Weedon
Executive Director
604-891-1257