ATIKOKAN – Owned by Ontario Power Generation, the Atikokan Generating Station is part of the province’s commitment to phase out coal and create economic stability in the region. This year the Atikokan Generating Station’s contract with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) was set to expire on July 23. Todd Smith, the Minister of Energy before Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet, directed the IESO to negotiate a new five-year contract. The mayor of Atikokan, Rob Ferguson, said he’s very excited. …Atikokan Generating Station produces 205 megawatts of biomass electricity, making the station one of North America’s largest biomass facilities and consumers of industrial wood pellets in Canada. Without a new contract, the facility would have likely been decommissioned. In its absence, the economic impact would be catastrophic.