Representatives from Tolko Industries Ltd. will be on hand March 20 at the Best Western Mirage Banquet Room, from 4-8 pm, to discuss the new energy plant project for the company’s lumber mill in High Level. Construction of the energy plant is expected to start in April, and to be operational by June 2019.
“We’re excited to bring this project to the community,” said Dave Gillespie, Plant Manager for Tolko’s High Level division. “This system is the first phase of Tolko’s plan to permanently decommission the beehive burner.”
Gillespie noted that there are many benefits to the new energy system, including that it will:
- consume most of the bark produced by the High Level sawmill,
- use a state-of-the-art electrostatic precipitator to minimize air emissions,
- enable the sawmill to significantly reduce natural gas used in the lumber drying process by replacing it with bioenergy, and
- provide green bioenergy to the future pellet plant at the site which is currently planned to begin operation in 2020.
“The new energy plant will reduce our carbon footprint in High Level,” said Gillespie. “This is a part of our commitment to sustainability and to the community.”
Everyone is welcome at the open house where there will be drawings and information on hand. Gillespie and Michael Towers, Tolko’s Manager of Energy and Environment, will be on hand to answer questions about the new plant and its impact on mill operations and the community.
