SCOTIA POWER PLANT TO REOPEN IN MAY

As promised, Greenleaf Power is working to re-open the Eel River Power biomass plant in Scotia.
 
"It will be up to full manpower once we start operation in May," Spokesman Matt Ross said.
 
At least 20 workers will be hired by the time it opens. Town of Scotia President Frank Bacik said this is good not only for the locals, but also the surrounding communities.
 
"We use to see many more pick-up trucks— perhaps as many as dozens a day bringing in their green waste,” Bacik said.
 
But now the plant is almost like a ghost town since it closed in October. There are about five workers maintaining the facility in preparation for the re-opening. Outside vendors are also on site.
 
"Some of our vendors are starting to come back a provide some of the fuel so we can start to store it and be prepared to open up," Ross said.
 
The company is working to secure a long power sales agreement, as well as getting a stable supply of wood fiber.
 
“We’ve been able to work out some agreements on that,” Ross said. “In addition to some of the uncertainty of some of the recent regulations of what we thought was going to be proposed.”
 
Those regulations had to do with the ash the facility ejects.
 
“But those issues appear to be resolved,” he said.
 
Bacik said the plant re-opening is a sign the economy is going in the right direction.
 
"It’s indicative that the economy is coming back a little bit which leads to fuller employment in town," Bacik said.