$1 Million for Biodigester at Forest Products Hub in Madison Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $1,000,000 in the draft Fiscal Year 2022 Transportation and Housing Appropriations bill to construct an anaerobic biodigester at the Forest Products Hub in Madison.  Senator Collins is the Ranking Member and lead Republican on the Transportation and Housing Appropriations Subcommittee.  The bill, which was officially released by the full Appropriations Committee yesterday afternoon, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.

“The creation of the Forest Products Hub at the former paper mill site in Madison has created new employment opportunities and spurred the development of innovative uses for forest products,” said Senator Collins.  “This investment in a waste-to-energy biodigester would supply the Forest Products Hub with clean, renewable energy.  As the appropriations process moves forward, I will continue to champion this funding, which would help to further strengthen Maine’s forest products industry and encourage additional economic development in Madison.”

If the Fiscal Year 2022 Transportations Appropriations bill is enacted into law, the Town of Madison would use this funding Senator Collins requested to construct an anaerobic digester that would convert organic feed stock into renewable biogas at the site of the former UPM paper mill.   The digester has committed partnerships and momentum to provide a solution to several needs: on-site renewable energy, reducing waste in landfills, and reducing the carbon footprint of a long-time industrial site.  This project is located in an Opportunity Zone, a program created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to help revitalize and encourage long-term investments in underdeveloped communities. 

###