In the News – Bioeconomy

Sep 16, 2024:
Going Negative: How Canada Can Help Decarbonize the World
By Dr. Jamie Stephen in www.policymagazine.ca/ “… What is the primary problem with Canada’s climate policy? It is not designed for Canada. It does not reflect our northern, resource-dependent economy. Nor does it reflect the geographic realities or regional differences of Canada. In general, a moral argument, instead of an economic one, has been used for climate policy. This, along with spurious claims that buying an EV or heat pumps will stop wildfires or floods, has led to public disillusionment on climate action. It doesn’t need to be this way. Canada can be a world leader in decarbonization – not only of our own economy, but those of other nations as well. But it requires a complete shift in climate policy approach and mindset to one that values economic efficiency, carbon efficiency, and exports….So how do trees allow us to meet climate goals while growing our resource-dependent economy and meeting the energy needs of our international customers such as Japan, Korea, Germany, and the UK? By coupling the power of healthy, growing trees to remove CO2 from the atmosphere with a technology combination known as BECCS: BioEnergy with Carbon Capture and Storage.” Other  articles advocating Big Forestry Solutions to Just-About-Everything are presented in this  Special Ed. of Canadian Politics and Public Policy Magazine. Write David Graham and Derek Noghbor in Forestry for the Future:

Canada’s forest sector is poised to help reduce this country’s carbon emissions, support the conservation of biodiversity, mitigate the risks of more catastrophic wildfires, and grow a greener and more innovative economy. Now more than ever, we need the federal government’s commitment to improving policy coherence so the sector and its workers can achieve our full potential.

Sep 13, 2024:
– Renewable energy megaproject announced for Nova Scotia (Video News 2 min)
CBC “Executives from an Irish company were in Halifax on Friday to reveal plans for a renewable energy megaproject on the Eastern Shore. The company wants to convert wind, solar and biomass energy into jet fuel. Taryn Grant has the story.”
– Irish company planning to produce jet fuel in Goldboro, N.S., at former LNG site
By Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press , posted om halifax.citynews.ca “An energy firm based in Ireland says it is planning to produce sustainable aviation fuel at the site where a liquefied natural gas project had been proposed on Nova Scotia’s eastern shore…Simply Blue Group announced Friday that construction would begin in 2026 with the biofuel project expected to be operating by 2029 in Goldboro, N.S., about 165 kilometres northeast of Halifax…The company says it has secured about 305 hectares of land for development, including 108 hectares previously owned by Calgary-base Pieridae Energy, which had planned to build a $10-billion liquified natural gas export terminal at the site. But the project, proposed in 2012, was shelved in 2021…Simply Blue says that every year its Goldboro project will source about 700,000 tonnes of wood biomass through Wagner Forest NS Ltd. to produce 150,000 tonnes of the fuel. Wood biomass is typically defined as residue from the wood processing industry and material left behind by forest management, but it can also be created by harvesting smaller, less-desirable trees…Meanwhile, the company also said it will make use of wind and solar power to produce the fuel. Tory Rushton, the province’s natural resources minister, issued a statement saying the plant could represent a new market for the province’s forestry sector. “We know many landowners have an abundance of low-grade wood fibre …. so this is another renewable energy project coming to Nova Scotia,” the minister said, adding that the project requires environmental and safety approvals…Raymond Plourde, wilderness co-ordinator at the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre, said in an interview the term “low-grade” biomass doesn’t only refer to the wood chips and sawdust created in sawmills, but it can also include cutting species of trees unwanted by sawmills. He said 700,000 tonnes of biomass a year is “huge,” and he estimates it represents the “consumptive capacity” of a medium-sized pulp mill. ”
– Researchers make breakthrough with genetically engineered wood that could transform the construction industry: ‘One major step for us’
Story by Sam Westmoreland in www.msn.com. “Researchers have made a major breakthrough regarding genetically engineered wood, and it could revolutionize the push for green construction practices. According to Innovation News Network, scientists have created a form of poplar wood that is as strong as chemically treated wood and on par with aluminum in terms of tensile strength… They accomplished this by using base editing to affect a key genome in poplar trees that deals with the production of lignin…By genetically removing that lignin from the wood before the trees have grown, scientists can reduce our reliance on harmful chemicals and further reduce the carbon footprint of construction.” (TreeFrog Sep 13, 2024 Summary)

Aug 21, 2024:
Natural Resources Canada invests in Canadian team advancing research to support domestic clean fuels production capacity and energy innovation
On Canadian Nuclear Labs. “The two projects focus on producing synthetic fuels to help Canada meet its net-zero emission target”

Aug 13, 2024:
– Clean Fuel Fund helping transition Nova Scotia industries to biofuels, biomass
By Canadian Biomass staff In www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca. Also view: Funding Available for Industries to Move Toward Cleaner Fuels, NRR News Release Aug 13, 2024.

Aug 2, 2024:
Membertou First Nation builds area’s first mass timber commercial building
By Don Procter Daily Commercial News “The Membertou First Nation near Sydney, Cape Breton, is building the area’s first mass timber commercial building, a 92,000-square-foot office complex as part of the community’s Seventh Exchange, a new 35-acre retail and service district.”

July 31, 2024
$300 million more federal funds to support ‘green’ hydrogen production and exports from Atlantic Canada
Jennifer Henderson in the Halifax Examiner. Subscription Required. Summary in Morning File for Aug 1 “The financing [Natural Resources Minister Jonathan] Wilkinson announced on Wednesday is intended to bridge the gap between the price industries in Germany are willing to pay to convert from so-called “natural” fossil gas that is mostly methane, to more expensive hydrogen fuel, and the price it costs developers to produce it – including John Risley’s World Energy GH2 company that has proposed a hydrogen plant and massive wind projects near Stephenville, in Newfoundland and Labrador.”>reports. Henderson writes:”The financing [Natural Resources Minister Jonathan] Wilkinson announced on Wednesday is intended to bridge the gap between the price industries in Germany are willing to pay to convert from so-called “natural” fossil gas that is mostly methane, to more expensive hydrogen fuel, and the price it costs developers to produce it – including John Risley’s World Energy GH2 company that has proposed a hydrogen plant and massive wind projects near Stephenville, in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

– ‘A terrible use’ of public money: Critics slam federal government handouts for ‘green’ hydrogen exports to Germany from Atlantic Canada
Joan Baxter in Halifax Examiner. Subscription required. Summary in Morning File for Aug 1. ” In a scathing statement, Julia Levin, associate director of national climate for the Canadian environmental advocacy organization, Environmental Defence, described the $300 million handout for the Canada-Germany Alliance as a “terrible use of taxpayer money for an energy-intensive, inefficient and expensive hydrogen scheme.”… Levin noted that hydrogen is being presented as a climate change solution because when it is burned, it doesn’t create any greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “But that hides hydrogen’s dirty secret – when it leaks into the atmosphere it actually does contribute to global heating,” Levin wrote. “And it leaks a lot.”

July 30, 2024:
– Government of Canada and Province of Nova Scotia Unveil Collaboration Framework to Drive Economic Growth and Create Jobs
Natural Resources Canada, News Release, “The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia are working together to build a low-carbon economy that drives clean growth and creates good, sustainable jobs throughout the province and across the country…The Collaboration Framework identifies six areas of economic opportunity to pursue: hydrogen, marine renewables, clean electricity, critical minerals, the forest bioeconomy and carbon management. In all of these areas, companies across the province are already moving to seize the economic opportunities they present, and the federal and provincial governments will be there to support them….” Under “Related Products”, there is a link Regional Energy and Resource Tables – Nova Scotia which list in some detail the governments’ perspectives on Carbon management, Clean electricity, Critical minerals, Forest bioeconomy, Hydrogen, Marine renewables, Sustainable jobs

Jul 29,2024
– Scaling Up Bio 2024 (Announcement)
Delivering Low Carbon Intensity Canada’s 9th annual industrial bioeconomy business conference. November 25 – 27, 2024

Jul 28, 2024:
Mass timber’s sustainability promise: does it stack up?
Andrew Miller for www.oregonlive.com “…questions over mass timber’s sustainability matter equally to its advocates and its opponents, who have very different standards for what constitutes sustainable. And it matters to taxpayers, who have contributed millions of dollars in federal and state investment toward its research and development.”

– WPAC Conference & Tradeshow to highlight The Role of Biomass in Electrification
“The Wood Pellet Association of Canada Conference is Canada’s largest gathering of the Canadian wood pellet industry. Each year, the event attracts hundreds of wood pellet, biomass and bioenergy professionals from across the country, as well the U.S., Europe and Asia, to discuss the issues that are having an impact on the industry here in Canada. The WPAC Conference is your opportunity to learn about the most important issues from industry experts around the globe.” Under 2024 Conference Schedule the theme is “Powering Sustainability The Role of Biomass in Electrification”, with SESSION #1: The Electrification Revolution, SESSION #2: The Role of Biomass in Electrification” Keynote Address for the Conference is Bob McDonald of CBC’s Quirks and Quarks. “Keynote: Solving the Climate Crisis With Today’s Technology, Bob McDonald. Moderator: Vaughan Bassett, Senior Vice President, Biomass Sales and Logistics, Drax Group”

July 23, 2024:

– 2024 Mass Timber Roadmap (PDF)
The Transition Accelerator in partnership with FPAC.ca, Canadian Wood Council, EneregyFutureesLab. Intro as cited in TreeFrog News for Jul 24, 2024. “Unlocking the potential of Mass Timber across Canada will significantly address many key challenges of building taller with wood given its ability to accelerate housing construction time by as much as 20%; drive economic activities and create jobs in rural and Indigenous communities; and reduce carbon intensity of construction and providing long term carbon storage. Canada’s forest sector is ready to scale efforts around mass timber to maximize those benefits and compete globally. In June, Canada’s Transition Accelerator launched its 2024 Mass Timber Roadmap, making the case and outlining the need for mass timber in Canada. This report was a collaborative effort of over 50 participants from Canada’s mass timber value chain — including business, government, research institutions, Indigenous communities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). …The roadmap proposes an ambitious vision and calls on industry, business, stakeholders, and government to come together to advance and implement this vision.” Of Note Re Atlantic Canada, on page 21: “While softwoods currently provide the majority of feedstock, there are opportunities to exploit more hardwood species in certain market segments. European producers have developed glulam and LVL from species such as beech and oak, and these technologies can be expected to be applied to North American hardwoods, providing mostly opportunities for Eastern Canada, as well as the U.S. Northeast.”

July 22, 2024:
Competition Bureau outlines what can be considered corporate greenwashing
Jeffrey Jones in Globe & Mail, July 22, 2024 (Subscription required). From Treefrog Forestry News: “OTTAWA — The Competition Bureau has published guidance on what might constitute corporate greenwashing as it begins consultations over how it will implement Ottawa’s contentious new measures aimed at preventing false and misleading environmental claims. The bureau said goals and timelines for achieving environmental objectives such as reducing carbon emissions must be supported by clear and specific plans, and not just be aspirational. It also warned companies against trying to shield their green assertions with disclaimers. The agency issued the commentary on Monday as it launched a request for feedback to help it formulate plans for implementing the new measures, which some companies, industry associations and provincial governments have criticized for being vague and heavy-handed. The consultation period runs to Sept. 27. Bill C-59 contains the controversial amendment to the Competition Act that puts companies at legal risk for making environmental assertions that do not stand up to scrutiny. ”

Jul 11, 2024:
Unhappy with new greenwashing rules, Alberta and fossil fuel companies push back
Benjamin Shingler · CBC News “Consultations planned for law aimed at cracking down on misleading environmental claims”

July 4, 2024:
Competition Bureau statement regarding guidance on Competition Act’s new greenwashing provisions
On Canada.ca, From: Competition Bureau Canada, . Following the passage of amendments to the Competition Act on June 20, 2024, the Competition Bureau has received a large number of requests for guidance on the interpretation of new provisions aimed at greenwashing. These provisions require that companies be able to substantiate environmental claims made to promote a product or business interest. To facilitate compliance with these new provisions, the Bureau will develop guidance on an accelerated basis in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders. To inform this process, we will launch a public consultation in the coming weeks to gather views and input. Prior to our consultation on the greenwashing provisions, we welcome comments on any of the recent amendments to the Competition Act through our Guidance Feedback Form. The Bureau is committed to principled, transparent, and evidence-based enforcement of the Competition Act.” Associated Links and Contacts provided.

Jul 2, 2024:
– Province collects no reclamation security for large wind projects
Joan Baxter in the Halifax Examiner “In April this year, Premier Tim Houston hosted a town hall meeting in Pictou County about the proposed 100-turbine wind farm being proposed by Bear Head Energy, and found himself pummelled with tough questions from the audience. Many worried about the project’s environmental impact on their picturesque corner of the province with its rolling, wooded…”
Into in Morning File

Jun 27, 2024:
– Nova Scotia wood chips dumped into Iceland coastal waters and called ‘carbon capture’
By Joan Baxter in The Halifax Examiner (subscription required, intro in Morning File) “In 2022, credulous media were writing flamboyant headlines venerating Running Tide CEO Marty Odlin as “the guy who wants to help save the planet with thousands of buoys, seaweed and giant antacids.” … Spotify and Microsoft were so taken by the hype that both bought carbon credits from Running Tide, which bills itself as a carbon-sequestration company that can “fix the planet.” …Two years after those big headlines Running Tide is being shut down. … On June 14, the Icelandic weekly newspaper, Heimildin, known for its investigative journalism, published an article about Running Tide’s carbon capture scheme, noting that it sounded “too good to be true.” That’s because it was. … last summer Running Tide dumped 19,000 tonnes of wood chips into Iceland’s coastal waters, “completely unsupervised.” … the “Canadian” wood chips Running Tide dumped were shipped from Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia … On June 14, Odlin reported that he was shutting down Running Tide’s global operations…”

Jun 26, 2024:
– S5 EP1 | Keeping up with the Competition Act (Podcast, 45 min)
On /www.nortonrosefulbright.com/ “Transformative changes to the Competition Act are here. How will they affect the competition disputes landscape? To kick off season 5 of Disputed, hosts Ted Brook and Erin Brown sit down to discuss the changes with guests Chris Hersh, Partner and Canadian Head of Antitrust and Competition based in Toronto, and Eric Lefebvre, Partner and litigator based in Montreal. In addition to the changes to the Competition Act, this episode covers the current status of bills C-59 and C-56 and their compounding effects on the potential for expanded competition litigation; environmental performance claims; and why there’s still so much uncertainty in this area. Ted, Erin, Chris and Eric discuss why the changes could result in a significant uptick in litigation on competition issues, particularly where NGOs are eager to bring complaints.”Tip of the Hat to Rob B. for forwarding this item ” I think this will be of significant interest to anyone interested in legal approaches to conservation protection and misleading environmental claims. Major changes are: 1) giving regular citizens the right to launch legal complaints about misleading and false advertising. 2) Raising the bar for corporations and their responsibilities to follow ethical guidelines/rules. 3) Increased financial penalties for rule breakers. 4) Easier access for class action lawsuits — eg, class actions are not restricted to the Competition Bureau’s discretion — private citizens and groups can now also push class action suits with the Bureau’s approval.”

June 14, 2024:

– Government of Canada invests in discovery and applied research to keep the country at the forefront of scientific advancements
NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada). Page provides links to grants from the feds to support research across Canada
– 4 Growing Threats to Europe’s Forests: Logging, Bioenergy, Wildfires and Pests
By Sarah Carter World Resources Institute

June 8, 2024:
– The Clear Cut – Canada’s Forestry PR: A Game of Deception
Joa Baxter interviewed by BuzzSprout. ”
We sit down with Joan Baxter from the Halifax Examiner about her recent article on the growing problem of greenwashing in an age of digital information sharing. We discuss the Forest Products Association’s (FPAC) ‘Forestry for the Future’ advertising campaign that’s been proliferating across social media…Read Joan’s article in the Halifax Examiner.”