Congress Approves Nearly $2 Million for Our Katahdin Secured by Senator Collins
The funding now heads to the President to be signed into law
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $1,950,000 in Congressionally Directed Spendingfor Our Katahdin in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. The bill, which was included in legislation that passed the Senate today, now heads to the President to be signed into law.
“Our Katahdin provides an abundance of economic and employment opportunities in the Katahdin region,” said Senator Collins. “As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure this funding, which will support further innovative development of renewable energy in the Millinocket region.”
"Our Katahdin is grateful for the support of Senator Collins to re-establish heat and power to the One North campus buildings in Millinocket. The planned combined heat and power facility would utilize groundbreaking Maine-based technology fueled by renewable, local forest biomass,” said One North Director of Mill Site Redevelopment Steve Sanders. “Funding for clean energy infrastructure on the former Great Northern Paper industrial site supports Maine's forest products industry and fosters local jobs and economic development. We appreciate the Senator's dedication to the Katahdin region.”
This funding will support Our Katahdin’s continued utilization of locally sourced biomass to heat and power a commercialized center for sustainable forest products in Millinocket. This funding builds upon the $2.5 million secured by Senator Collins in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus to support this project.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $500 million for hundreds of Maine projects for FY2022 and FY2023. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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