Atikokan coal-fired power station converting to biomass

The Atikokan, Ontario coal-fired power generation station has been given the go-ahead to convert to a biomass driven station.

The province of Ontario has announced that the Ontario Power Authority has been directed to negotiate a deal to purchase power from Atikokan.

The conversion to biomass will take 3 years and will create 200 construction jobs.

Many of the 90 jobs already at the power generating station will be saved.

20-25 jobs at a nearby pellet plant will be created to produce the biomass to create the electricity.

“This is the beginning of an exciting new future for the Atikokan plant and the community,” said Energy Minister Brad Duguid in a release issued Thursday. “With its conversion to biomass, we’re helping to build a made-in-Ontario industry, adding a new source of clean energy and supporting local jobs.”

Source:

Atikokan gets go-ahead for biomass conversion (TbNewsWatch)