Construction of a new biomass heater at the Sportsplex is now underway.
The project is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.
Fink Machine of Enderby, which installed the biomass heater at Dutch Lake Community Centre, has the contract to supply a Veissmann boiler system that will deliver hot water to three sites in the arena building.
Installation of the foundation and bunker for the heater took place late last year but the rest in the installation was delayed due to poor weather.
READ MORE: Sportsplex to get biomass heater (Jan. 1, 2018)
READ MORE: District looks at wood heat for former Dutch Lake School (Mar. 11, 2014)
A modular boiler house was pre-assembled in Enderby.
Installation of new mechanical room equipment started in mid-March.
Ground work and trenching took place in mid-April.
Wells Gray Community Forest contributed $300,000 to the project. Another $160,000 came from BC Community Energy Leadership Program. District of Clearwater chipped in nearly $40,000 from federal Gas Tax funds, while Area A (Wells Gray Country) put in $24,000.
The biomass heater at DLCC, which burns wood chips provided by Canfor-Vavenby, reportedly has resulted in a 70 per cent savings in operating costs.
The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and utilize fibre that otherwise would be shipped out of the area.
The project is designed to allow for expansion from a single boiler to multiple boilers to serve neighboring properties.
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