The B.C. Liberal government has introduced legislation to make changes that will only allow receiving licences to be transferred to another non-lumber producer.
The receiving licences were created to to give bioenergy companies access to low-value timber waste that companies that have regular timber rights would not normallly bring out of the woods.
The idea was that the receiving licence volume could be added to the volume on a regular licence, which meant the company doing the logging can bring out both high-grade and low grade timber.
The receiving-licence idea, first rolled out as an idea in early 2010, hasn't been enacted yet, but the legislation change is a first step in making them a reality, B.C. Forests Minister Steve Thomson said Friday.
While there is still some work to do, Thomson expects the receiving licence concept will be ready to be implemented this summer.
"It's fairly obvious why we wanted to restrict it - it's to make sure the focus of the receiving licence is on development of the bioenergy and non-lumber part of the industry," said Thomson.
There are several bioenergy projects in northern B.C. that have been put forward.
For example, bioenergy projects in Northern B.C., which could run into hundreds of millions of dollars, have made B.C. Hydro's green-energy shortlist.
The projects, if approved and built, would constitute the first significant bioenergy production in Northern B.C. since the B.C. Liberal government launched a bioenergy strategy in Prince George three years ago.
Other legislative changes introduced will make large timber rights holders ineligible to apply or hold woodlot licences. The woodlot licences are intended for individuals, First Nations and small companies.
