12. Biomass Opportunities and Potential in Northern British Columbia, Canada

The use of biomass as a heating fuel in northern British Columbia (BC) is an attractive alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The benefits of using biomass in BC include cost savings of at least 50 %, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and increased energy security in individual communities and opportunities for local employment and engagement. Using the Austrian biomass industry as a model to establish and grow the industry in northern BC, many of the early issues can be avoided, such as over-dimension, resulting in a highly productive and robust network. Achieving a high level of growth in the biomass industry in northern BC would require the involvement of the various levels of government, private businesses, and educational institutions and most importantly, the citizens of the communities it serves. Financing, technical expertise, fuel sources, and biomass technology are all available—it is a matter of engaging local municipalities and First Nation communities by promoting biomass heating as an economic and sustainable alternative.