Packing and tissue products maker Cascades Inc. is undertaking two energy efficiency projects at its container board packaging plant in Cabano QC. The Quebec government is providing $5.2 million in financial support while the company is investing $6.1 million.

The projects consist in modifying two residual forest biomass boilers. One will be upgraded with automated controls. The second, more ambitious project involves installing a new combustion chamber and combustion air preheater to the other boiler. These projects will allow the plant to improve boiler operating time and efficiency while limiting the use of another boiler that consumes heavy-fuel oil.

The $11.3 million investment will result in an annual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) equivalent to taking 4,000 light duty vehicles off the road.

“This investment will allow us to reduce our ecological footprint and even further improve our energy performance. Thanks to our employees' efforts and ingenuity, Cascades already consumes 2.7% less energy than the Canadian average to manufacture the same products," said Mario Plourde, president and CEO at Cascades.