Explaining the Biomass Conversion Centre MRC information session

0
138

Jamie Cameron

CAMPBELL’S BAY – Members of the MRC Pontiac held an information meeting, at the MRC building on August 25, to explain the business plan for the Biomass Conversion Centre as well as future steps towards implementing the project.
MRC Pontiac Warden Raymond Durocher presented the project to a

Jamie Cameron

CAMPBELL’S BAY – Members of the MRC Pontiac held an information meeting, at the MRC building on August 25, to explain the business plan for the Biomass Conversion Centre as well as future steps towards implementing the project.
MRC Pontiac Warden Raymond Durocher presented the project to a
variety of different “general partners” including representatives from the SADC Pontiac, Emploi Quebec, local mills, private woodlot owners, etc. During the meeting, Durocher pointed out that seven logging trucks had passed the building, visually confirming that the Biomass project could be a productive business.
However, the Conversion Centre, aimed at restarting the forestry industry in the Pontiac, still does not have a firm location, although the Pontiac Industrial Park has been mentioned as a possible site.
One of the challenges in restarting the Pontiac’s forestry industry is that many of the qualified workers have either moved away or are retired. “These are the people we need to give training sessions,” said Durocher. The Conversion Centre also plans to make use of wood from public forests due to the volume of wood needed to keep the centre functioning.
Although talks are continuing with potential investors and operators, according to Durocher, the next step is a public outreach movement. “Our next step is to talk to all of the elected officials, our partners, the industry, and the people. We need a public movement to tell everybody that this is what we need, and what we have on paper will work,” he concluded.