The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) will become more environmentally sustainable after receiving a recent provincial and local contribution of $2.2 million dollars for expanding the school’s award-winning bioenergy system.

The investment, which was a collaborative effort among the Government of British Columbia, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition and TransCanada Corporation, will allow UNBC to begin the connection of its Enhanced Forestry Lab, student residences and daycare facility to a new energy system.

The Sustainable Communities Demonstration Project—a northern rural off-the-grid community model that serves as a platform for education and research—will also benefit from wood pellets donated by Pacific BioEnergy to fuel the system. Further funding from the B.C. Bioenergy Network will help reduce the use of fossil fuel for heating.

“UNBC is seen as an innovative leader in the clean energy field and as a driver of economic development to create jobs and opportunities for British Columbians,” says B.C. Minister of Advanced Education Amrik Virk. “Extending the bioenergy system is great for students, future generations of British Columbians, the community and our province.”

Currently, the Prince George campus has almost three-quarters of its heat generated by wood pellets and sawmill residue, but the university hopes the new enhancement will help reduce fossil fuel consumption for heating by 85 percent.

Construction is expected to begin soon.