New ideas include a district energy network to capture industrial waste heat from local manufacturers

Ward 5 Coun. Corey Gardi and Ward 1’s Sonny Spina will ask city council next week to consider a cornucopia of new environmental initiatives.

They’ll ask that the city’s economic development staff work with other departments to investigate the feasibility of a district energy network to capture industrial waste heat from local manufacturing.

They’ll also suggest partnerships with local forestry leaders and research centres to produce bio-carbon to replace coal in industrial processes, and mass timber.

Furthermore, Gardi and Spina will propose prioritizing "green logistics" at the Sault’s proposed port expansion, to facilitate movement of bio-products and critical minerals needed by the EV supply chain.

The following is the full text of their resolution to be presented at Monday’s city council meeting, which will be livestreamed at 5 p.m.

Green economy

Whereas Sault Ste. Marie is transitioning into a global leader in low-carbon manufacturing through Algoma Steel’s shift to electric arc furnace (EAF) technology; and

Whereas the city’s unique geographic position and existing industrial base provide a competitive advantage in "industrial symbiosis," where the waste products of one sector serve as the raw materials for another; and

Whereas the 2026 provincial and federal budget cycles have prioritized the investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) and the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) for projects that decarbonize heavy industry and expand the bio-economy;

Now therefore be it resolved that city council request that a "2026 Green 026 Council Agenda Innovation Roadmap" be developed jointly by economic development and sustainability staff, with support from engineering, as needed, focusing on the following two high-growth pillars:

• industrial symbiosis and waste-to-value: Investigating the feasibility of a district energy network to capture industrial waste heat from local manufacturing to provide low-cost heating for municipal buildings, greenhouses, or high-density housing
• forest bio-economy bridge: partnering with local forestry leaders and research centres to accelerate the production of bio-carbon (to replace coal in industrial processes) and mass timber to support sustainable construction and housing

Further be it resolved that the city’s economic development team be directed to prioritize "green logistics" at the planned expanded port, specifically targeting the movement of bio-products and critical minerals essential to the EV supply chain; and

That the development and implementation of the 2026 Green Innovation Roadmap explicitly supports and advances council’s unanimously approved 2020 commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, ensuring that proposed initiatives contribute to long-term emissions reduction, climate resilience, and sustainable economic growth; and

That staff identify and apply for specific funding through the NOHFC Invest North – Innovation Program and the FCM Community Energy Systems stream to offset the costs of these feasibility studies.