| Nearly one-quarter of the generating stations in
Canada are operated by industries other than utilities. Of the 185
non-utility plants, the largest single group - 78 stations - is
operated by the forest industry. This industry is defined here to
consist of operators in North American Industrial Classification
System Sub-sectors 321 (Wood Product Manufacturing), and 322 (Paper
Manufacturing). These plants are scattered throughout Canada, usually
in communities with a pulp mill. Although access to fibre was the
original determinant for creating these communities, the precise
location was invariably close to a large river as a lot of water
is needed for the production process. Occasionally, this river would
also be developed for a power plant for the mill.
The forest-based industry plants are about equally divided between
being hydro or thermal plants. Many of the oldest forest industry
generating stations were hydro stations. However, many of this industry's
generating stations later developed as a way to burn forest waste
and by-products to generate power and steam for the adjacent mill.
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