A giant greenhouse could be in the works for Kapuskasing. A request to negotiate a memorandum of understanding between the town, GreenFirst Forest Products, and Kap Paper Inc., was approved by council on Monday night.
The greenhouse could be built near the proposed co-generation facility and use some of the heat from the plant. General manager of energy and economic development Paul Nadeau says the agreement would help start a feasibility study to identify among other issues, funding sources.
“It could be a combination of private investment, public investment, like grants or the municipality could look at taking part,” he said. “I’m not sure what that looks like right now.”
Nadeau says there similar greenhouse in Northern Quebec.
“The perfect example is in Saint Felicien Quebec there’s a greenhouse operation by Toundra which is the name of the company,” he said. “They are operating under the Resolute Forest Products that’s outside of Sainte Felicien. They have a 35 hectare greenhouse that is operating right now producing cucumbers.”
The greenhouse also employees 400 people.
Nadeau says they can make efficient use of the heat produced and lower the operation costs.
He adds that by encouraging more locally grown vegetables in municipalities like Kapuskasing, it reduces the exposure to international trade uncertainties.
