Northwest Regional Planning Commission

Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) announced today that the FY2008 Omnibus Appropriation Bill that Congress has approved includes a $4.92 million federal grant to NW Regional Planning Commission to support efforts towards making Flambeau River Papers in Park Falls, Wisconsin, energy independent so it can remain competitive in the market.

Obey states, “The Park Falls Mill is striving to become entirely independent so it will no longer be subject to the high prices of natural gas and coal that almost put an end to the town’s long tradition of manufacturing pulp and paper. Obey goes on to say, “There are over 300 workers who have a stake in this project and I’m glad we were able to secure these funds to help.”

Pulp and paper has been manufactured in Park Falls since the 1890’s, but last year’s energy costs ran to over $1 million a month, nearly resulting in the permanent shutting of the mill. To reduce the impact of rising energy costs, Flambeau River Papers is working to create a first-of-its-kind facility that will produce paper and energy necessary to run the mill from the same stream of inputs without the use of fossil fuels. The Federal funds are intended to allow the NW Regional Planning Commission to help Flambeau River Papers with the conversion of the mill.

Flambeau River Papers estimates that eliminating natural gas would save the mill between $4 and $5 million per year and eliminating coal would save about $1.2 million, as well as reduce the mill’s fossil fuel carbon output.