ReEnergy Biomass Maine scores grant to produce biochar

In Maine, ReEnergy Biomass Maine LLC, which operates biomass power facilities in Androscoggin and Franklin counties, has been awarded $523,900 in grant funding to produce biochar.

The funds will be provided through the Forest Recovery Initiative of the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, administered by the Maine Technology Institute, which aims to support Maine’s forest products industry and strengthen the state’s economy. Awards are intended to support forward-looking industry projects that address new market demands, provide new sustainable products, or otherwise advance the long-term stability of the forestry industry.

ReEnergy Biomass Maine LLC operates two biomass facilities in Maine. ReEnergy Stratton, a 48-megawatt biomass power facility located in the Village of Stratton and the Town of Eustis in Franklin County, produces approximately 355,000 net megawatt-hours of electricity each year — enough to supply about 46,000 homes. A portion of ReEnergy Stratton’s electricity is sold to the adjacent Stratton Lumber mill, while the balance is supplied into the regional electricity grid. ReEnergy Livermore Falls, a 39-megawatt biomass power facility located in Livermore Falls in Androscoggin County, has the capacity to produce approximately 284,000 net megawatt-hours of electricity each year — enough to supply about 37,000 homes. The facilities are owned by ReEnergy Biomass Operations LLC and ReGenerate Energy Holdings, LLC.

Both facilities generate baseload renewable electricity using sustainably harvested logging residue and mill residue that is procured from approximately 100 large and small logging and wood processing companies and approximately 20 sawmills. In addition to the 48 full-time employees at the two sites, the operations of the two ReEnergy facilities are estimated to support an average of an additional 259 jobs per year through indirect and induced impacts.