Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The GNWT, along with multiple partners, announced a multi-year investment last week of more than five million dollars to create more opportunities for the NWT's sustainable wood biomass industry.

The money will be split up between the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and the Natural Resources Canada.

An Alternative Energy Specialist at the Department of Natural Resources, Bryan Pelke, said the investment will create more opportunities for cost savings.

"Promoting biomass energy has its own benefits for cost savings and greenhouse gas reduction. The intent is that there's some opportunity to be able to produce wood fuels, wood pellets, wood chip, and other biomass fuels locally."

Pelke said that the forestry side of the project will be a sustainable industry.

"Certainly a focus, or a pillar of biomass development, in the GNWT's approach to biomass development. The forestry side of it, sustainability is achieved through forest management practices."

Pelke said the hope is that this will allow NWT communities to have increased control over local forestry which would in turn lead to reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels.

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