$2.5 Million for Our Katahdin in Millinocket Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill in First Key Step
Funding would be used for biomass-fueled power plant at former mill site
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $2,500,000 for Our Katahdin to build a biomass power plant in the draft Fiscal Year 2023 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially released by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.
“The creation of the Commercialization Hub at the former paper mill site in Millinocket will create new employment opportunities and spur the development of innovative uses for forest products,” said Senator Collins. “This investment in a biomass-fueled power plant would supply One North with renewable energy, further strengthen Maine’s forest products industry, and encourage additional economic development in Millinocket. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
The funding would support the installation of a highly efficient biomass-fueled power plant to generate electricity and provide thermal energy to the district heating system at the former Millinocket mill site. This renewable heat and power source would create a new use for Maine woody biomass and serve as a pilot program for a Maine technology that will demonstrate unparalleled efficiencies for a biomass system.
Our Katahdin–-a volunteer driven, nonprofit organization that is working to promote community and economic growth in the Katahdin region–is redeveloping the former Great Northern Paper mill site into a Commercialization Hub known as One North. The project will bring emerging, green technologies to commercial production scale, spurring new investments and creating new jobs
