Five companies across Eastern Ontario — including three based in Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke — will receive more than $9.1 million in provincial funding to explore new and expanded uses for low-quality forest products, reports Arnpriortoday.
The funding, announced on July 7 by MPP Kevin Holland, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, is part of the Forest Biomass Program. Launched in 2023, the program aims to boost innovation and open up new markets in the forestry sector.
Killaloe Wood Products, located in Bonnechere Valley Township, will receive $952,500 to purchase mobile equipment that will improve access to biomass materials for energy production. In Whitney, Infinite Carbon will receive $3.37 million to build a pilot plant that will produce metallurgical biocarbon, a cleaner alternative for steelmaking. McRae Mills, also in the region, has been granted $146,500 to upgrade machinery and increase operational efficiency.
Elsewhere, Haliburton Forest Biochar is set to receive $4.64 million to expand its biochar production for applications such as power generation, soil improvement, and water filtration. Bancroft Minden Forest Company will receive $20,000 to carry out a market study focused on biomass.
Since its inception, the Forest Biomass Program has directed close to $40 million into forestry-related projects. Holland also noted that more funding is being delivered through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program.
The announcement event saw participation from regional sawmill operators, including representatives from Roseburg MDF near Pembroke. Their presence highlighted the program’s role in reinforcing the biomass supply chain and supporting long-term growth in Ontario’s forestry industry.
