The Village of Rothschild has an ordinance stating that no building or structure can be higher than 65 feet. In order for this project to meet federal air quality regulations, four of the proposed buildings and chimneys will have to exceed that height.
The passage of this variance was due in part to the vocal participation of dozens of union members who turned out at the Board of Appeals meeting in support of the project.
“There were at least 40 local activists from a broad coalition of unions at the meeting. It’s really exciting to see our movement galvanize around creating high-quality green jobs,” according to Phil Neuenfeldt, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer. “Furthermore, this is an opportunity to put materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill or cause forest fires to wise use. We should seize this chance to create a more energy independent state and family-supporting union jobs.”
Biomass is a plant-based energy source. In this case, it is the tree tops and branches left after logging takes place and clean or the untreated left over material from wood manufacturing such as bark or shavings.
Domtar and We Energies are partnering to build this biomass-fueled cogeneration facility, which will produce steam to run the paper mill and electricity for commercial use.
Combined heat and power cogeneration is a more efficient use of biomass fuel than producing steam and electricity separately. In addition to a smart use of a renewable resource, the new facility will use the existing brownfield site on the Domtar property and share the mill’s infrastructure and resources.
Domtar currently burns 130,000 tons of clean woody biomass each year to generate steam for their facility. Domtar produces 50,000 tons of biomass through their paper-making process and purchases an additional 80,000 tons annually.
Opponents of the project cite air quality as one of their objections. However, with the combination of the biomass facility’s air quality technology and the retirement of Domtar’s existing boilers, the new facility is projected to reduce the overall emissions from the mill site by approximately 30 percent. Ambient air quality is also expected to improve as shown by analysis that includes the effects of truck traffic.
The project is expected to create 400+ construction jobs over the 2.5-year building process and approximately 150 permanent jobs in fields supporting the operation of the biomass facility (forest management, logging, transportation).
On top of that, this project will help retain the current jobs connected both directly and indirectly with the Domtar facility. Domtar's Rothschild pulp and paper mill and the associated Lignotech chemical facility directly employ 460 men and women at family supporting wages. Roughly 800 external jobs rely on the economic impact of the mill.
Even local residents who aren’t directly employed by the project stand to benefit. Once the biomass plant is in service, both the Village of Rothschild and Marathon County will receive an annual payment based on the megawatt capacity of the facility, and that money can be used to support vital public services.
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is performing an independent environmental review of all of the data.
When completed, the PSCW will issue a draft of that report (an Environmental Assessment or EA) and all parties will have the opportunity to review and provide comment. That will be another opportunity for local union members to show support for this project and the associated jobs.
If the project receives PSCW approval, construction could begin as early as the spring of 2011, which would put the biomass plant on track to begin commercial operation in the fall of 2013.
This is how the Marshfield News Herald reported last week’s Board of Appeals meeting:
http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/article/20100820/MNH0101/8200624/Rothschild-residents-sound-off-on-biomass-plant-proposal#pluckcomments
(All pictures taken by Scott Wright at the Rothschild Board of Appeals meeting on August 19th. Top photo: Todd Bencke of UA Local 434, Terry Hayden of UA Local 434, Ron Holden of LIUNA Local 268, and Gene Rustic of IRON Local 383 inside of the meeting. Second Photo: Chris Ignatowski of UA Local 434, Rosie Britz of UA Local 434, and Tom Hill of LIUNA Local 268 outside before the meeting. Third Photo: Tom Hill of LIUNA Local 268 heads into the meeting. Bottom Photo: Steve Parrott of IBEW Local 388 and Tracy Parrott of UA Local 434 outside of the meeting. For more pictures, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157624644466097/.)
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Posted by: cathyzhang | 11/08/2010 at 02:58 AM
This is great information for jobless people in construction industry. Also this project really help to maintain the environment clean and healthy. In additional information Biomass have many benefits for the environment like the following:
Reduced Air Pollution
Reduced animal, food processing and municipal wastes
Reduced Use of Landfills
Reduced Risk of Wildfire
Improved Watershed Quality
Economic and Social Benefits
Posted by: HAZWOPER Certification | 02/02/2011 at 05:30 AM