Geothermal project makes headway.

• Author: Riopelle, Maggie
• Position: In city of Timmins

Geothermal energy could save the City of Timmins money on heating and air-conditioning costs. It could also be used as a tool to attract new businesses.

A proposed geothermal project would allow the city to reuse mine water from the abandoned McIntyre and Hollinger mines and convert it into an energy source.

Project partners include the City of Timmins, Porcupine Joint Venture (formerly Kinross Gold Corp.) and the Timmins and District Hospital.

In the near future, the city expects to receive an announcement on its funding applications, which were made to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Funds program, FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

The funding will be used for a feasibility study that will be conducted by FVB District Energy Inc. of Toronto at the cost of $216,465.

"The company will conduct a feasibility study on the use of geothermal energy for the Timmins and District Hospital or the McIntyre Arena," says Mark Jensen, city director of planning. "We still have to decide which facility we will recommend for the feasibility study before the project proceeds. But we are hoping for a funding announcement in early October from all three of the funding agencies. If we receive the funding, then council will support moving forward on the feasibility study."

The city will not be required to provide any funding for the study as the other two project partners will be providing both in-kind and financially to cover the private-sector contribution required to secure government funding. The city is providing in-kind project management.

"There are potential cost savings for both the hospital and the McIntyre Arena," adds Jensen. "But we don't know how much. The goal of the feasibility study...