Supporting Local Economies

Employment and economic development opportunities are often limited in small northern communities. Bioenergy initiatives have the potential to create self-sustaining micro-economies. Biofuels are typically obtained locally from either waste materials from timber and pulp and paper operations or harvested from underutilized species. Jobs and business opportunities are typically created in feedstock acquisition/harvesting, transportation, processing, and storage and delivery. These are all sustainable, ongoing operations that create permanent business opportunities that are economically and ecologically sustainable. Money that would be spent on purchasing fossil fuel from outside the community is now invested locally

First Nation Utility Model for Economic Development

With First Nation community partners, Commercial Bioenergy is creating Bio-Utilities, which will be solely owned over time by the First Nation. This bio-utility will structure the biomass micro-economy and create local jobs needed to operate and service the Biomass thermal plants. This will create jobs such as equipment technicians, feedstock managers, transportation, and administrative roles. Money previously spent on fossil fuels from outside the community now brings local economic benefits.