Prince George city council approved the first three readings to a renewed agreement between the city and Lakeland Mills Ltd. for energy supply to the Downtown Renewable Energy System (DRES).
The report to council explains the first agreement was for 10 years and expired in 2022. The new term for thermal energy supply retroactively commenced on July 1, 2022 and continues until December 31, 2026 with two additional renewable years for 2027 and 2028.
DRES is a district energy system that distributes heat to nearly a dozen downtown buildings including City Hall, Canfor Leisure Pool, Plaza 400 government building, Parkhouse Parkade, Prince George Public Library Bob Harkins branch, Wood Innovation Design Centre and more. The system uses sawmill residuals (often known as “wood waste”) to heat water that is pumped through more than three kilometres of underground piping.