FOREST-BASED BIO-ECONOMY (Bonavista region)

Before proceeding, we request that you read and sign the consent form available at the top of the righthand sidebar. Please send the form to Dr. Stephen Decker at sdecker@grenfell.mun.ca

Watch this short video and answer the three questions below:

After reviewing the Round 1 Summary of Responses document posted on this site, please respond to the following three questions. The intent here is to start turning the ideas you and others offered into possible opportunities and strategies. Don't be afraid to be visionary and creative, but also keep in mind that in the next round we will need to consider what it will take to turn these possibilities into feasible projects.

The list of potential opportunities below is the result of feedback and responses received from participants during the initial two rounds of engagement. We would like your help in determining which of these ideas seem to have the best prospects for success and might generate the greatest interest in the region. Please review the list of potential opportunities below and then respond to the following four questions. Thank you!

Potential Opportunities:

1.    Recover heat/energy and use within the mill for other value-added processes/products.

2.    A greenhouse operation using waste heat to support all-season food production, selling to both residential and restaurant customers.  

3.    Use the excess energy in the production of hydrogen. (Canada has launched its national hydrogen strategy; an NL strategy is being developed; may present an exciting opportunity for the mill to be on the leading of edge of the clean economy.) 

4.    Exploring opportunities for electricity production with the excess steam – a micro-grid electricity system for surrounding area; could be used as an investment attraction asset for the region.

5.    Pursue an opportunity with Newfoundland Power to produce "green renewable" electricity and sell into the grid. 

6.    A secondary processing facility for food products (e.g., cutting carrots down to size for use in hospitals, etc.) that could use waste energy from the plant and leverage existing skill base in equipment operation and maintenance. 

7.    Explore developing an engineered wood product partnership to produce glue-laminated timbers or cross laminated timber products. 

8.    Produce component parts for other wood-based industries (add value to commodity lumber). 

9.    Wood pellets/Heating product(s) for residential wood stoves and/or to support distributed heating systems in new subdivisions developments or residential complexes.

10.    Expand production of mulch for animal bedding using wood/biomass residuals. 

11.    Production of landscaping mulch using wood/biomass residuals. 

12.    Production of compost and soil amendments using wood/biomass residuals.

13.    Use sawdust for an absorbency material for the oil industry. 

14.    Utilize clean ash (not contaminated by oil) from boiler for soil amendments.