Operations at Cariboo Pulp and Paper in Quesnel, BC will be curtailed for 16-days due to fibre challenges. In other Business news: Tolko is rebuilding its High Prairie, Alberta mill post-fire; Georgia Pacific is building a new Dixie facility in Jackson, Tennessee; Drax’s contribution to Canada exceeds $1 billion; and PG&E faces investigation as part of the Mosquito fire probe. Meanwhile: lumber prices fall back to their pre-covid levels; and a mass timber webinar (TimberCon), and projects in Seattle; Northampton; and Finland.
In Forestry/Wildfire news: Canada raises alarm on the spotted lanternfly; Montana’s governor announces funds for fire mitigation; a New Mexico wildfire creates a drinking-water crisis; and hurricane Ian threatens southeaster timber holdings.
Finally, how firewood is becoming an economic indicator for the European economy.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
High Prairie, AB — Tolko’s High Prairie team is continuing to work hard on the clean-up effort following the serious press fire that occurred at the mill on May 20, 2022. The damage to the press and press building was significant, and much of the equipment was a total loss. The good news is that Tolko will be rebuilding the site and replacing the existing press line. The project is still in the preliminary engineering phase, so timelines may shift, but the early estimate is that the mill will see the first new board before the end of Q4 2023. “I’m incredibly proud of the team at High Prairie and I’m happy that we’ve been able to keep everyone fully employed,” says Fred Chinn, Tolko’s VP, Strand Based Business. “We’ll do everything we can to keep employees active during the rebuilding, and I’m so impressed with the heart and commitment that I’ve seen from everyone.”
Lumber prices have fallen to their lowest level in more than two years, bringing two-by-fours back to what they cost before the pandemic building boom. Lumber futures ended Monday at $410.80 per thousand board feet, down about one-third from a year ago and more than 70% from their peak in March, when the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates. …Now home builders say that cheaper wood is giving them wiggle room to offer buyer incentives and to trim prices without crimping their profit margins. …Paul Jannke of FEA forecasts that lumber consumption will decline by as much as 2.5% this year and up to 4.5% in 2023… [but] expects wood prices to be much higher than during previous downturns—in the $400s per thousand board feet. …The consolidation of North America’s sawmills by a few big firms, such as Canfor and West Fraser Timber Co., has hastened the speed at which production is choked back in response to falling prices and should buoy prices, said Håkan Ekström of WRI. [a WSJ subscription is required to access the full story]
…If you live in the U.S., wood was likely used to build your home. All these wood-based items … help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by storing carbon. The wood used in people’s houses may be particularly important when it comes to storing carbon. According to a new Southern Research Station study, the wood used to build and maintain houses will continue to store large amounts of carbon for the next 50 years. …Even after the wood used in buildings reaches the end of its useful life and ends up in a landfill, it does not immediately release its carbon. It continues to store that carbon for many years. In this way, wood retains its storage capacity for several more decades. …Houses store so much carbon that figuring out how many will be built in the future is important for understanding the total U.S. carbon storage capacity.
Timber is growing in popularity as a sustainable construction material, [as is] the need for fire retardants that don’t pose a threat to human health. …the fire retardants we use to protect building materials often contain dangerous toxic chemicals. Pollution from fire retardants is a major safety risk that cannot be ignored. Construction professionals must be made aware of the dangers to help protect lives and limit the environmental impacts of these harmful chemicals. This means ensuring only the safest, most sustainable options are specified for projects. …as the construction industry continues to grow, further research and technological innovations are helping to increase the availability of non-toxic, safer fire retardants. More environmentally friendly products will help to ensure the chemicals we are putting into building materials are safe, helping assure a greener, cleaner future for construction. Currently, however, there is still a long way to go.
Terrace, B.C. – ‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo School received a boost to its educational initiatives with a $2000 contribution from the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC), Skeena Bioenergy and the Prince Rupert Port Authority. The contribution recognizes the power of partnerships that exists between the Kitsumkalum Economic Development Group of Companies, Skeena Bioenergy and the Port of Prince Rupert. “The Kitsumkalum Peoples are a major part of the success of the entire wood pellet sector,” said Gordon Murray, Executive Director, Wood Pellet Association of Canada. “By supporting the education goals of the community members, we are supporting everyone’s success.” …The ‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo School provides a holistic education program that enables students to reach their academic, cultural, and personal potential within a challenging, nurturing and caring environment. It supports all learners from a variety of communities and diverse cultures.
SAN FRANCISCO — Federal investigators have taken possession of a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. utility transmission pole in a criminal probe into what started a Northern California fire that has become the largest in the state this year, the utility said in a regulatory filing. U.S. Forest Service officials indicated to PG&E that an initial assessment showed the Mosquito Fire started near one of its power lines on National Forest lands, the Oakland-based utility said in its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. …The Mosquito Fire has scorched 120 square miles and was 85% contained as of Monday. The blaze in the Sierra Nevada foothills, about 110 miles northeast of San Francisco, broke out Sept. 6 and has destroyed at least 78 homes and other structures and charred forestland across Placer and El Dorado counties. PG&E equipment