S. Stormont: Pellet plant powers up
Cornwall Standard-Freeholder / Kevin Lajoie / 12 February 2009
Ingleside could soon become home to Canada's largest wood pellet production facility.
Canadian Bio Pellet Inc. (CBP) has set its sights on the Ingleside industrial park as the location for a new $80-million development, which could create anywhere from 85 to 110 direct jobs and numerous spin-offs in the forestry and freight sectors.
CBP vice-president and co-CEO Dan Stasko said the company has an offer on a 60-acre parcel of land in the industrial park, and it is working towards obtaining final licencing from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Stasko said if all goes well, shovels will be in the ground by the early spring and construction should take about nine months to a year to complete. He said the next 30 to 60 days will be "crunch time" for the project.
The plant will produce wood pellets - an alternate source of heat and energy - from compacted wood fibres. The Ingleside facility will have a total capacity of 450,000 tonnes, and Stasko expects the plant to run at a production rate of 350,000 to 360,000 tonnes in its first year of operation. By comparison, the largest wood pellet plant in the world, located in Florida, has a capacity of 550,000 tonnes. Stasko said there will be no excessive odours or noise associated with the plant.
Stasko described the potential jobs as "good paying," with labourers earning in the range of $15 to $17 per hour. Machine operators, material handlers, millwrights, shift supervisors and technicians would earn a premium on top of that.
Much of the wood supply for the plant would come from within a 150-kilometre radius, and the forestry supply lines used by the former Domtar mill in Cornwall would be put to use.
The company is headquartered in Toronto, however the plan is for Ingleside to become the headquarters for production.
"Ingleside is the hub," said Stasko.
Stasko added the company has already secured some contracts for its product with electrical companies in Europe, and it also hopes to tap into the domestic pellet stove heating market. The company could also play a role in Ontario Power Generation's eventual shift away from coal and into alternative energy.
The project will be discussed further during an information session tonight (7 p. m.) at Rothwell-Osnabruck School in Ingleside, and everyone is welcome to attend.
South Stormont Mayor Bryan McGillis said the development is good news for the entire area, especially in light of the current economic conditions.
"We're pretty excited about it," he said. "It's sure going to be a great asset within the community."
