Forest biomass workshop: a success with many projects to come

This is the 1^er In November, a workshop-conference on forest biomass was held at the Salle Marcel Thériault in Saint-Côme. Nearly fifty people attended the event, which brought together elected officials from a dozen Matawin municipalities, the Atikamekw community of Manawan, as well as forestry and regional economic development stakeholders.

This workshop, organized as part of the Sustainable forest management program and specifically aimed at Matawinie municipalities, was designed to stimulate discussion and reflection on the use of forest biomass as a source of heat.

More than sixty boiler rooms are already in operation in various regions of Quebec. Guest speakers came to talk about their own achievements. They shared their knowledge and experience in developing and implementing forest biomass boiler projects in their own communities, not forgetting the successes and challenges they faced.

In small groups, participants were then invited to design and plan a feasible forest biomass boiler project for their municipality, drawing on the advice and experiences shared by the day's speakers.

Due to its geographic location, the Matawinie RCM benefits from strong forest biomass potential. What's more, many institutional and commercial buildings are heated with oil, natural gas or propane, providing an opportunity to convert to forest biomass. This would help reduce our dependence on oil, while contributing to the fight against climate change. As Gaétan Morin, Prefect of the Matawinie MRC, points out, "this type of project stimulates job creation and contributes to regional economic development".

There was a definite enthusiasm, a spirit of collaboration and a willingness to innovate and take action. Various projects, both municipal and commercial, emerged from the workshop, suggesting that forest biomass boiler plants could be on the horizon in Matawinie over the next few years.

This activity was made possible thanks to the collaboration and financial support of the MRC de Matawinie, the Government of Quebec, the Société d'aide au développement de la collectivité Matawinie, the municipality of Saint-Côme and Rodeo communication.