CANBIO Supportive of Ontario Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force (ECSTF) recommendations
and Ministerial Announcements

For release January 30, 2004

Canadian Bioenergy Association (CANBIO)

CANBIO Supportive of Ontario Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force (ECSTF) recommendations and Ministerial Announcements

The Ontario Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force (ECSTF) issued its report on Ontario's electricity system, including recommendations for conservation, demand management and supply options on January 14. During its deliberations the ECSTF heard presentations from a number of different stakeholder and industry associations including the Canadian Bioenergy Association (CANBIO). Subsequent to the report being issued, the Ontario Minister of Energy, the Honourable Dwight Duncan, announced a plan by Ontario to seek 2500 MW of new demand-side management and supply measures to be in place as early as 2005, but no later than 2007. In addition, the government is seeking up to 300 MW of renewable energy capacity to be in service as soon as possible.

CANBIO supports the recommendation of the ECSTF report to increase Ontario's supply of renewable energy and welcomes the Ministerial announcement. CANBIO conservatively estimates an undeveloped bioenergy potential of 1700 MW and 12 TWh of electricity within Ontario. Key benefits of bioenergy compared to other renewable forms are: it can produce usable heat as well as electricity through combined heat and power plants; it can be relied on to provide a steady supply of energy, with high capacity factors of 85% and higher, while solar and wind depend on favourable weather; and it provides more local employment and economic growth. CANBIO recommends that bioenergy plants and other renewable technologies such as wind, small hydro and solar complement each other in Ontario's renewable energy mix.

The Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force report can be found at:
http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=english.main

Bioenergy is any form of energy derived from organics, including woody plant material (or biomass). Fully renewable and sustainable when properly managed, bioenergy can be produced from forest harvesting residues, forest industry mill residues, agricultural residues, urban and industrial organic wastes, or dedicated energy crops. Bioenergy can take the form of heat - for domestic, institutional, community or industrial use, electricity, or liquid and gaseous fuels.

Biomass energy is Canada's second largest source of clean, renewable energy after hydro electricity. This country is rich in biomass resources. Bioenergy has the potential to make a major contribution to Canada's future sustainable energy supply in combination with other forms of renewable energy

CANBIO is a national, industry-driven, non-profit organization of individuals, businesses and non-governmental organizations interested in the development, promotion and use of bioenergy.

For further information:
Bruce McCallum
Chair, CANBIO
(902) 964-2297
mccallum@isn.net

CANADIAN BIOENERGY ASSOCIATION (CANBIO)
3330 White Oak Road, London, Ontario N6E 1L8
Phone: (519) 686-8895 Fax: (519) 686-1132
E-mail: info@canbio.ca Web: www.canbio.ca

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