Williams Lake sends out S.O.S. for biomass power plant

By Nelson Bennett
Business in Vancouver
January 27, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The City of Williams Lake is fighting to save a biomass power plant there that is set to go dark in the coming weeks, partly due to a lack of affordable fibre, which has become an all-too-familiar refrain in B.C. for sawmills, pulp mills and other wood processing businesses. The Atlantic Power plant in Williams Lake burns wood waste to generate about 66 megawatts of electricity annually, enough to power about 50,000 homes. …But the company that owns the plant announced one year ago that will have to shut down, as it will no longer be economic to operate, due to fibre insecurity and insufficient electricity rates from BC Hydro. …The power plant is Williams Lake’s single largest industrial taxpayer, said Williams Lake Coun. Scott Nelson — providing $1.7 million in taxes to the city annually. …The council has urged BC Hydro to reopen its contract with the company to provide a more favourable rate.

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