Gov. John Baldacci yesterday voiced his support of a $20 million proposal to build a biomass furnace factory in Millinocket.
RE-Gen LLC, the Rockport company behind the proposal, is seeking roughly $9 million in federal and state grants to help fund the project, according to the Bangor Daily News. Baldacci, whose approval is a necessary piece of those applications, gave his support after being assured RE-Gen would not compete for resources with the state’s wood, paper and wood pellet industries, according to the paper.
The furnaces RE-Gen wants to manufacture are designed by Uniconfort of Italy and make steam by burning green scrap-wood chips from the tops and limbs of trees, which are not used by the paper or pellet industries.
The company plans to begin construction on the factory next year. Within five years, the factory would employ an estimated 100 workers and 50 loggers, according to an executive summary of the plan cited by the Daily News.
RE-Gen already has plans to power and heat a proposed 115-unit subdivision and school in Portland, the paper reported. RE-Gen President Joseph Cloutier owns or operates about 70 assisted living centers in New England, according to the paper.
