Please Review: Green Manufacturing Mill Unable to Obtain Federal Stimulus Funds, Closes Permanently
Terry Mock
apparent loss of this California Tanoak biomass resource for a green
pulp mill open an opportunity for biochar? Is funding available?
Southern Oregon Tanoak forest owners may be the next to have to deal
with this Sudden Oak Death issue.
Thanks,
Terry Mock
Trustee, Ocean Mountain Ranch -
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sldt/0809/#/18
Executive Director, Sustainable Land Development International -
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sldt/0509/#/24
www.SLDI.org
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________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Lauren Annicelli [mailto:lauren.a...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:53 AM
Subject: Green Manufacturing Mill Unable to Obtain Federal Stimulus
Funds, Closes Permanently
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2009
Green Manufacturing Mill Unable to Obtain Federal Stimulus Funds, Closes
Permanently
Freshwater Tissue would have created nearly 3,000 green jobs for
economically devastated Northern California
Humboldt County, CA- Freshwater Tissue, California's last pulp mill and
the only chlorine-free/dioxin-free mill in the United States plans to
permanently close. The current owners of the Samoa, CA pulp mill were
unable to obtain federal stimulus funds to convert the Samoa mill into
an integrated tissue plant. The plant would have served as an exemplary
model of responsible and environmentally sound American manufacturing.
In spite of the Samoa mill's status as the only
chlorine-free/dioxin-free pulp mill in the United States, the mill has
struggled since the mid 1990's to compete with foreign competition. When
the new owners acquired the Samoa mill in February of 2009, their vision
was to make the mill competitive by manufacturing consumer-ready,
eco-friendly, chlorine-free toilet tissue. The vision included consuming
by-products of the Redwood forest, such as tanoak trees, which are a
valueless, disease-stricken hardwood tree species that at present is an
extreme fire hazard to the Redwood region. The company's vision had
broad support from environmental advocacy groups, educators, foresters,
community leaders and labor unions. Unfortunately, the banking industry
collapsed, and both federal and state lawmakers, including Congressman
Mike Thompson (D-CA), were unable to help fund a shovel ready, job
creating, and renewable stimulus project. As a result, 425 direct and
2,500 indirect green jobs have been lost permanently for California's
North Coast region.
Rick Hind, Legislative Director of Greenpeace said of the closure, "It's
outrageous that the federal government, which just offered $55 million
for experimental 'clean coal' technologies, could not find a penny for a
proven chlorine-free pulp mill and the green jobs it would support."
Labor union leaders have also expressed their profound disappointment.
Greg Pallesen, Vice President of The Association of Western Pulp & Paper
Workers remarked that, "The closure of the Samoa, California mill is a
prime example of failed U.S. financial and trade policies, which
continue to be the main cause of massive job losses in the U.S. At the
same time as the "green"
Samoa manufacturing site is closed forever, large polluting mills in
China and elsewhere are being brought online in order to supply U.S.
consumers.
The end result destroys working families here at home while increasing
pollution worldwide. Shame on our politicians who do nothing but talk
about "green" job creation. This facility is closed forever, and the
families and communities in Northern California will suffer for years to
come."
Gregg Gold, Sierra Chapter President, spoke on behalf of the North Group
and Redwood chapters representing over 10,000 members. "Of local
importance is the fact that the Samoa mill would have provided a viable
market for Tanoak trees, which the timber industry treats as an
undesirable weed. At present, Tanoak trees are eradicated by spraying
them with chemicals to halt their growth or kill them. This process
tends to make Tanoak quite flammable, which endangers the entire forest
including the Redwoods where Tanoak is most prevalent. In sum, we
believe Mr. Simpson's vision had the potential to transform an entire
industry, and are sorry to see his vision disappear."
"I left Samoa in 1996 after eliminating the use of chlorine at the pulp
mill," said Bob Simpson, President of Freshwater Tissue Company. "I
returned to Samoa in 2009 with a vision of converting the Nation's only
chlorine-free pulp mill into an integrated tissue mill, and providing
sustainable jobs for a green economy. In a normal economic climate,
such a plant would have easily found funding by green tech investors.
The current financial crisis made this nearly impossible so we turned to
President Obama's green stimulus plan for support. We had hoped that
our Federal and State lawmakers would help us obtain Federal stimulus
funding which was designed precisely for green manufacturing projects
that are sustainable and create living-wage American jobs. I am
extremely disappointed and saddened by the lack of support we received
from our Congressional representatives. Humboldt County needed these
jobs and America needed this green technology."
For more information, photos of the mill, or to schedule an interview
with Bob Simpson, please contact Dale Didion at 202-544-5430 or
ddi...@didiongroup.com . www.freshwaterpulp.com
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