Verso Paper's energy plant project in Breitung Township, MI

Verso Paper in Breitung Township

The Forest Products Processing Renaissance Zone at Verso Paper’s Quinnesec Mill in Dickinson County is the first such zone issued in Michigan.

The $43-million energy plant project will more than double the Breitung Township mill’s capacity to generate electricity from wood fuel, reducing the use of electricity produced from coal. It includes construction, boiler modifications and installation of new equipment and, importantly, recognizes the socio-economic value of the mill’s existing 472 jobs.

“Expanding our capacity to generate electricity from biomass is one of the ways in which we’re increasing our leadership in clean energy technology,” Granholm said.

Quinnesec Mill project scope

The project scope includes design upgrades to the Quinnesec Mill's existing combination boiler, which burns biomass from waste wood sources, the addition of a new biomass handling system, and the installation of a new turbine generator supplied by Siemens. Verso is partnering with AMEC Engineering to begin detailed design for the Project, which is estimated to start up by December 2011.

"The implementation of the Quinnesec Renewable Energy Project is in alignment with Verso's three-pronged energy strategy, which is to reduce overall energy consumption, generate more green energy from renewable biomass and reduce our carbon footprint, all while reducing costs," said Mike Jackson, Verso's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Verso Paper Corp is based in Memphis, Tennessee.

A Renaissance Zone in Michigan allows a company operating within the zone to operate free of virtually all state and local taxes over the life of the designation.