As part of her jobs and trade mission to Asia, Premier Christy Clark began her first full day in Korea promoting clean energy resources, focusing on B.C.’s biomass sector and highlighting a project that will see B.C. lumber in more than 200 Korean homes.
“It’s imperative that we look at new ways of doing things that will be sustainable for the future,” said Clark.
“Through the development and marketing of clean energy alternatives in Korea, our government is creating new markets and new jobs back home in British Columbia.”
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was initiated between University of British Columbia and Korea Institute of Science and Technology will boost joint research and development projects on fuels and chemicals sourced from biomass.
Clark also witnessed a formal agreement between RCI Capital/Sustainable Development Technology Canada and T-Stone Capital Fund on $300 million worth of matching funding for investment in Canadian clean-technology portfolio companies, of which over 30% of the portfolios are B.C. companies.
The second MOU between Canada Wood Group and Best House Korea is for design and construction of 200 to 250 wood-frame houses to be built using up to $5 million in B.C. lumber.
“B.C. wood products are affordable and allow for exceptional building designs, but they also have tremendous climate friendly attributes – every tonne of wood material used in construction prevents about 5.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere,” said Clark.
The premier and B.C. green building delegates also met with the Korean Organizing Committee for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games to discuss using B.C. cross-laminated timber design in sports facilities.
