FPAC says bioenergy can replace nine nukes

He was appearing today before the Senate Standing Committee on Energy,
the Environment and Natural Resources as part of its study of the
current and future state of Canada's energy system and its goals of
defining a Canadian Sustainable Energy Strategy.

According to the Canadian Industrial Energy End-Use Data and Analysis
Centre, biomass ranks second after large hydroelectric facilities in
producing renewable energy in Canada, and also creates almost three
times as much energy as wind.  The forest industry now generates enough
electricity to power Vancouver or the entire Maritime provinces or
replace the output of three nuclear reactors.

"We could easily triple our clean energy output using waste products
from our mills," says Lazar.  "Already we are self-generating about two
thirds of our energy needs and about a half dozen of our mills are now
net exporters of energy to provincial grids. Further developing this
significant source of green energy needs to be a larger part of
governments' energy development plans"

The Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (PPGTP) is already
helping Canadian pulp and paper mills increase their production of
renewable energy, and when the program is fully completed, will mean an
extra 2.1 million MWH/year, enough to power nearly 174,000 homes.

"We need to keep that momentum going," says Lazar.  "Governments have an
important role to play to further help mills accelerate their
transformation and add on the production of bio-fuels, bio-chemicals
and other bio-products to their existing product mix.  Recognizing the
role that the Canadian forest industry plays in greening the energy
supply chain is a critical component of any clean energy strategy."

Lazar told the Senate that this would be good not just for the
environment and Canada's energy future, but also good for the economy
and jobs.