Port Clements is moving ahead with a biomass heating system that will save the village thousands of dollars, thanks to a grant from the Northern Development Initiative Trust.The NDIT has approved a $98,623 grant to help Port install the new system, which will heat the multiplex building, the fire hall and the school gym by burning biomass briquettes that can be produced at a locally-owned mill. The system can be expanded in the future to heat more buildings.Right now, the village is using propane and electricity to heat the buildings, and expects to save $40,000 a year by switching to biomass.Port councillor Urs Thomas, who was instrumental in pushing the biomass project forward, said he was happy about the NDIT grant."I believe in saving money and in clean energy," Mr. Thomas said. "My dream was to get a co-generation plant built at the Port Clements Industrial Park to help make better use of our local wood waste, and reduce costs for the village. When I heard bout the local wood briquette plant being built, as well as Telkwa's district heating system, I had new energy to work and move this project ahead - and thanks to Northern Development it will happen."The grant comes through NDIT's economic diversification infrastructure program, which provides up to $250,000 in funding to local governments and non-profit organizations for projects that strengthen the local economy via a major capital investment.