Bioenergy opportunities for Annapolis County

“Bioenergy [is] an excellent opportunity to create both local employment as well as new markets for wood and agricultural crops,” said warden Peter Newton, following the conference on bioenergy, sponsored by the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency and the Canadian Bioenergy Association.

“Growth in this industry will not only create alternative energy resources, but will assist our communities to become sustainable.”

The turnout was impressive for the day-long session, held at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre February 15. With 65 attendees, including woodlot owners and manufacturers, the local interest in bioenergy had CanBio’s Bruce McCallum excited about its potential in the region.

“Clearly there is local interest in bioenergy, and that bodes well for the region,” he said. “There is lots of industry potential here for both forest and agri-biomass.”

Richard Hurlburt, Nova Scotia’s minister of energy, was likewise enthused by the possibilities for bioenergy in the province.

“We are looking at every avenue at our disposal in the bioenergy sector – tidal, wind and biomass,” he told participants at the conference. “We think we can have the cleanest environment in North America.”

For one woodlot owner who attended, it seemed clear that there are ample resources in Annapolis and Digby counties to pursue bioenergy production.

“We have the resources here – they’re abundant and readily available,” he said. “All we need is investment in technology and we’re there.”