SAINT JOHN, N.B. (AP) – New Brunswick’s largest forestry company is interested in a power plant that would generate electricity by burning wood waste from forest floors.

J.D. Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith said using use the vacant shipyard in East Saint John as a site for such a plant is an “interesting idea.”

Keith said the company will make an announcement on possible uses for the mothballed dry dock within a few weeks.

Liberal Leader Shawn Graham said the 400,000 tons of branches, wood chips and bark left on New Brunswick’s forest floors could fuel a 15-megawatt power plant.

The provincial energy minister and the province’s forestry industry are behind the concept, although it wasn’t clear if there would be enough wood waste available in New Brunswick to supply a new power plant.