Monday, August 30, 2010

Proposed Manitoba legislation encourages biomass power

New regulations proposed by the Manitoba government aim to improve air quality in the province while encouraging the use of natural biomass materials as fuel.

Manitoba Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie made the announcement August 23, 2010 emphasizing that the new rules would help make the air cleaner and also streamline the approval process for new clean energy systems such as biomass, as a heat and power source to replace fossil fuels.

Thermal treatment technologies included in the proposal are combustion, gasification and pyrolysis. Blaikie added that the proposed legislation would make biomass-based systems more attractive to industry by putting in place a simpler and faster permit system.

The regulations would also level the playing field for biomass thermal systems currently competing with fossil-fuel based incineration systems, by requiring additional air quality protection.

Manitoba Hydro Senior Bio Systems Engineer Dennis St. George agreed with Blaikie that the new incinerator rules will help promote the use of biomass and other wastes as fuels for heat and power generation in Manitoba.” I'm also sure that customers who are currently relying on incineration to dispose of their waste materials will appreciate having Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart Bioenergy Optimization Program available to add value to their business,” he said.

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