TWO NORTHWEST businesses are sharing in an $8 million taxpayer-financed payout announced by the provincial government.
Pytrade Canada Inc. will spend $1 million in Kitimat building a fast-pyrolysis plant that will heat biomass to produce bio-oil, charcoal and gas. The bio-oil can be used to create electricity for the grid.
And Mavi Turbines Inc. in Prince Rupert will spend $470,000 to build, install and monitor a commercial scale tidal energy converter specifically designed to serve remote communities.
The two projects are among 12 new projects to share in the $8 million which was collected under the now-discontinued Innovate Clean Energy Fund tax which appeared on utility bills.
All told the province has spent $72 million since 2008 on green energy projects in the attempt to develop a green industry based on new and innovative technologies.
So far, 12 ICE Fund projects are complete and have created 271 construction jobs and 103 ongoing jobs, says the provincial government.