Welcome to the Wood Pellet Association of Canada’s Spring 2026 newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading it, and we look forward to your feedback.
the headlines
Every year brings its mix of challenges and opportunities for Canada’s wood pellet sector. What determines our momentum is not the circumstances we face, but whether we continue to show up, work together, and move the file forward. Looking back at 2025, progress across markets, safety, research and policy reflected consistent, collective effort—not individual achievement.
The 2026 Arctic Bioenergy Summit and Tour brought together over 130 energy leaders, policymakers, and bioenergy experts in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NWT), from January 26–28 to explore bioenergy and heating solutions for remote and Arctic communities. The event, hosted by the Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA) and the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC), showcased the theme Sustainable Bioenergy for Northern Communities: Reliable. Affordable. Local.
“This Summit showed just how far northern communities have come in adopting practical, reliable bioenergy solutions,” said Fahimeh Yazdan Panah, Association Executive Director, WPAC. “Seeing these systems in action—and hearing directly from the people operating them—underscores the pivotal role biomass can play in building energy resilience across the North.”
Across British Columbia, mills representing every level of the forest sector, including sawmills, pulp mills and now a pellet plant, are closing or curtailing at an alarming pace. They serve different markets but are part of an integrated system. While global markets and tariffs certainly shape the broader economic landscape, the real driver of today’s challenges is the lack of accessible fibre that every part of the sector depends on.
Fibre supply has fallen more than 40 percent since 2018, leaving BC operating at roughly 60 percent of the sustainable harvest level set by the Province’s independent Chief Forester. This is the deepest sustained under-harvest in BC’s modern history – and further declines in 2025 only point to a worsening situation. In a sector this interconnected, the effects cascade quickly. What happens to primary manufacturers trickles through the whole supply chain: contractors, sawmills, pulp mills, value-added producers, mass-timber facilities—and pellet plants. As these pressures build, rural communities face fewer jobs and weaker local economies, with reduced tax revenues putting added strain on the services British Columbians rely on.
The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) was proud to participate in the November trade mission to Japan alongside Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks, Todd Loewen and British Columbia Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar. This mission was important for strengthening relationships with Japanese energy partners and showcasing Canada’s role as a trusted supplier of renewable biomass energy.
FETCH – Global Leaders in Coal-to-Biomass Conversion
FETCH is a global consultancy with over 40 years of experience. They operate in a unique and specialized market supporting utilities and industrial facilities in transitioning from coal to sustainable biomass fuels. The company offers consulting services across the full conversion pathway, including fuel specification, pellet handling and storage, milling performance, combustion optimization, fire and explosion mitigation, and long-term operational reliability.
FETCH maintains long-standing, valuable relationships with global engineering firms and financial advisory institutions and works closely with regional and international wood pellet producers. The company also has exceptionally strong connections with leading equipment manufacturers serving pellet producers and utilities worldwide.
FETCH represents the world’s leading manufacturers of advanced additives for boiler optimization and particulate matter control, including Imerys Corporation, France and Advanced Cyclone Systems, Portugal.
FETCH delivers practical, scalable, and low-risk solutions that enable measurable decarbonization of existing coal-fired infrastructure in a value-driven, honest and straightforward way.
Contact: Hugh Young, Founder & President
email: hughjyoung@gmail.com
Wood pellet heat gives Mother Nature an early start every spring at this Nova Scotia greenhouse
Harsh Maritime winters aren’t friendly to delicate seedlings, but a custom wood pellet heating system installed at Searle’s Garden and Florals in Truro, Nova Scotia, ensures plants and vegetables grown throughout the winter will thrive in gardens and homes every spring.
“We do our early germination and propagation in this greenhouse. The pellet boiler gives us under-bench hot water, which is really nice. Forced air from propane can help with humidity and as a backup, but it’s a harsh heat, very uneven,” said Andrew Searle, owner of the large facility. “The plants in here are tender and small. We want the best start for them possible.”
Regeneration is at the heart of Canada’s approach to sustainable forest management. Every area that is harvested or disturbed—whether by fire, insects, or harvesting—must regenerate naturally or through reforestation, so forests remain healthy, productive and continue storing carbon. The same principle guides Canada’s wood pellet industry, where pellets are made entirely from forestry and manufacturing residuals—wood once considered waste—to produce renewable, low-carbon energy for the world.
safety first focus
For over a decade, the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) Safety Committee has worked to keep our industry safer. The Committee focuses on activities that continue to improve collective safety performance, earn trust from regulators and the public and foster a stronger safety culture among WPAC members.
Recognizing that safety is not an annual event, there are always initiatives just starting, underway, and almost complete. The WPAC Safety Committee 2026-2028 Work Plan reflects this value.
The Wood Pellet Association of Canada is pleased to announce our latest safety hero—Craig Brightman, Second-Class Power Engineer and Supervisor at BioNorth Energy. Craig consistently shows exceptional safety leadership.
Known for going above and beyond in every aspect of his work, Craig leads effective safety meetings, ensuring his team knows not just the “what” but the “why behind safety work practices.
“Craig cares deeply about doing things the right way, says Trevor Murdock, HS&E Coordinator at BioNorth Energy. “He is relentless in his pursuit of excellence.”
BC Forest Safety Council News Release
The BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) is proud to announce the launch of Connection to Care, a free, confidential mental health support service designed to help forestry workers across British Columbia. This initiative officially began on January 5th, 2026, and will run until December 31st, 2027, offering vital upstream mental health care to thousands of workers in the forest sector.
The forestry industry faces unique challenges, and recent economic uncertainty has amplified mental health concerns among workers. Recognizing this, BCFSC has partnered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and the BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA) to deliver a call-in service that connects workers with qualified mental health professionals, including Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) and graduate-level practicum students. The service is available Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8:00pm.
Upcoming Events
Biomass Magazine announced the general session speakers for the 2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo, scheduled for March 31 to April 2, 2026, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The general session will be held Wed., April 1, and will feature the presentation of three industry awards, a keynote presentation, followed by a moderated roundtable discussion focused on biochar and biocarbon market development.
The general session keynote presentation will be delivered by Rudi Roeslein, founder of Roeslein Alternative Energy, whose work has advanced integrated biomass, renewable energy and carbon-negative project development across the U.S.
The Argus Biomass Conference returns on 21–23 April 2026 and will bring together 450+ senior leaders, 275+ companies and experts across biomass, bioenergy, biochar, SAF, BECCS and industrial decarbonisation.
Over three days, attendees will gain strategic insights on evolving EU policy (RED III/IV, EUDR, EU ETS), supply–demand dynamics, carbon removal markets, and emerging technologies reshaping the sector. The event also features dedicated networking receptions, business‑matching, and an innovation showcase.
If you work across biomass, biofuels, logistics, heavy industry, finance, sustainability or carbon markets, this is the must‑attend event for 2026.
WPAC members can save 10% off the standard registration fee using the code:
ABC10WPC26