Sustainable Resource Development in the Woodlands County can rely on new funding to continue with mountain pine beetle surveys along with the Fall and Burn programs.  The Alberta government will provide $15 million and the federal government will add to that with $10 million.  The amount of funding directed to the Woodlands County has yet to be determined, with the results of surveys providing a framework for the allocation decision.
Work will continue through the winter months identifying and burning infected trees. The goal is to reduce the beetle population as much as possible before they go to flight in July.
The milder temperatures experienced in November created a condition where the beetles hadn't yet moved into the "cold-hearty" state.  On a positive note, the severe, quick drop in temperature through mid-December may have been enough to have had a killing effect on the beetle population.  Survey results released in the spring will provide more details.
A new website has been developed by the government of Alberta to provide information about mountain pine beetles . It is an excellent resource to keep you informed about the pine beetle and how government is working to protect Alberta's forest resources from attack.

To learn more about funding programs designed to respond to the problem go to the Natural Resources Canada website.

 

Swan Hills Synfuels, a Calgary based company, has demonstrated a new way to obtain clean energy from deep, unminable coal beds in Central Alberta.  A pilot project was run in Swan Hills, Alberta during the summer and has been successful in demonstrating that coal previously thought to be inaccessible, can be converted into clean synthesis gas.  The process has adapted existing in-situ coal gasification technology to turn deep, stranded coal into clean synthesis gas (syngas) in Alberta.

 

This clean syngas is an environmentally responsible energy source that can be used as fuel for clean power generation or processed further to create other clean energy products.

Swan Hills Synfuels is the fourth and final project to get funding from the Alberta government under the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) initiative. The Calgary Herald reported that the Province of Alberta has executed a letter of intent with Swan Hills Synfuels to provide a $285 million grant in support of this carbon capture and storage project.  The 1,400 metre deep coal-to-gas well will be the deepest of its kind in the world.  The project is expected to reduce emissions by capturing and sequestering over 1.3 million tonnes per year of CO₂.

The Government of Alberta reported in a release that "Creating syngas from coal and sequestering CO2 achieves all three goals in the Provincial Energy Strategy," said Energy Minister Mel Knight. "The gasification process is clean energy production; turning coal into clean burning syngas is wise energy use; and sequestering CO2 for enhanced recovery from existing fields will sustain economic prosperity in north-central Alberta while generating new long-term revenues for Albertans."

Woodlands County and Whitecourt will benefit from jobs created within the region for the project as well enjoy the long lasting effects to the economy of sustainable, clean energy.  A $50 million pipeline will be built to pipe the gas from Swan Hills region to the County to power a major, 300 mega-watt clean-energy plant. The plant, with construction set to begin 2011, will cost $500 million dollars to build and will provide the possibility of about 300 jobs during the three years of construction and 30 full time positions.  Once running in 2015, the plant will supply an equivalent of about one-quarter of Edmonton's current electrical demand.

Deep underground coal gasification involves the injection of oxygen and saline water into the deeply buried coal to turn it into synthesis gas. This gas can be used as fuel for clean power generation, further processed into gas for home heating, or for other products like hydrogen, methanol or transportation fuels. Underground coal gasification does not use fresh water in its operation and is significantly different than other in situ processes, such as those used in oil sands development. Underground coal gasification is used at depths where conventional coal mining is not economic or currently possible.

To learn more about the process go to www.swanhills-synfuels.com

The Whitecourt Trailblazers Club was nominated for the 2009 Alberta Tourism (Alto) - "Friends of Tourism" Award.  The snowmobile club was being recognized for their weekend event held last February, "Sled Invasion". The Awards were presented Oct. 25 at the ninth annual Travel Alberta Industry Conference in Banff. Even though they didn't receive the coveted award, a finalist position recognizes the importance of the event to tourism within the region.

Sled Invasion drew media attention from all over Canada, including the Guinness Book of Records as well as internationally syndicated television shows.  The one-of-a-kind freestyle snowmobile show featured professional Winter X-Games riders showcasing their freestyle jumps and tricks.  There was also a 2 day poker rally with more than 1400 sleds and 3,200 poker hands sold.

For more information about the club go to www.whitecourttrailblazers.ca

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Grade 5/6 Busby students are excited to have their very own netbooks to use in the classroom.  The Busby Parent Council was approached in the spring by  the Pembina Hills Regional School Division technology department with a proposal to bring in the pilot project.  With funding from the Parent Council for computers, the tech department committed to paying for and installing a wireless network.

The Busby Parent Council supported the project to have the school stand out a little from others within the region, to create excitement for the students and to help prepare them for their move into larger schools such as R.F. Staples.

There are also students who have specific learning challenges that benefit from the use of computers, such as having voice recognition software, or websites that provide assistance to kids who have difficulty reading.
As the children move on to Junior High, the computers will stay at the school and be available for next years Grade 5/6 class.

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Canadian hog producers have two more options available to them from the Federal government.  Agricultural minister, the honorable Gerry Ritz indicated that the government has worked with the Canadian Pork Council to create two new programs.  They recognize that the hog industry can be profitable, but that it needs to be re-structured. 
The programs are designed with two outcomes in mind. 

• Producers are offered funding assistance to move out of hog production and into another agricultural sector. The Hog Farm Transition Program is a $75 million initiative designed to help eligible producers by providing payments to those who agree to set aside all hog production in their enterprise for a minimum of three years.
• Producers who feel that they can wait out the downturn and remain profitable in the long run can apply for government backed loans for the interim. The Long Term Loan Program will be provided by lending organizations. The loans would be first used to reimburse any outstanding Advance Payments Program (APP) emergency advances under the 2008 stay of default, if the borrower holds such an advance. Additional funds could be used to address liquidity issues or make the investments required to achieve long-term profitability. To find participating financial institutions, click here.

The Village of Clyde hosted a community open house recently to gather feedback from residents as to the current strengths and weaknesses they see.  Council members also asked residents what they would like to see in the future.
The open house was part of an assessment process that will become part of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) for the Village.  A consulting firm was contracted to complete the analysis with the open house feedback providing useful information for the final report.  The intention of the report is to create a plan for the Village that incorporates four dimensions within a municipality; environmental, cultural, social and economic.

Municipalities throughout the GROWTH Alberta region have been or are in the process of completing their own ICSP.  The program encourages municipalities to look at their long term growth and sustainabiltiy and to encorporate recommendations into future planning.

Each municipality is required to complete the assessment to access federal gas tax funding under the New Deal for Cities and Communities.

 

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Hon. Rob Merrifield reports in a recent press release that he and Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz attended a meeting in Mayerthorpe on September 26, 2009 to discuss issues at the ground level.  Approximately 70 farmers, producers and municipal officials came out to the event. 

The evening was set up to provide an opportunity for the producers to give presentations and to voice concerns regarding the agriculture industry.

The format was well received and issues including the beef industry, trade, BSE, insurance programs, the pork industry, the Government’s new pork assistance program, the impact of drought on crop yields and COOL Labeling were discussed.

Minister Ritz explained that Government initiatives delivered in Canada's Economic Action Plan are designed to help farmers succeed in a time of global recession. Some of these initiatives include:
- A three pronged pork assistance program
- A $500 million agricultural flexibility program to invest in marketing, innovation, and
environmental projects,
- Emergency loans of up to $400,000, with the first $100,000 interest free with an extra year
before those loans come due,
- Tax relief for farm families; and,
- Improved credit access for new farmers.

The Town & Country reports that as questions were raised, the Minister addressed each one in return.  The meeting provided a wealth of information for both producers and Ministers alike.

Econometric Research Limited released the results of an economic impact study of the benefits of Hunting and Fishing in Alberta. It was determined that total hunting and fishing related expenditures by Alberta residents and non-residents in Alberta exceeded $264.2 million in 2008. That includes expenditures such as equipment, accomodations, food and beverage, transportation and other items.

The report indicates that the economic impact of this large volume of expenditures on the provincial economy and the various local regions are significant and substantial.

To view the entire report go to www.huntingfortomorrow.com and scroll down mid-way on the home page.