Blue Heron cuts energy at Oregon mill

Pulp & Paper, Mar 2005

Blue Heron Paper Co. is undertaking a $10 million initiative that will boost paper recycling by 100 tpd or by more than 20% at its Oregon City, Ore., newsprint mill. Most of the money will be spent on equipment to raise recycled paper content to 80% and concurrently reducing woodfiber demand. The mill has reported capacity of about 240,000 tpy on two paper machines and currently recycles 450 tpd of old newspaper and magazines.

The project will be financed with state grants, tax breaks, and contributions toward reducing electricity usage and greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, Energy Trust of Oregon announced. Energy Trust will fund about half or $5.4 million of the cost, and Blue Heron will receive $500,000 from the Climate Trust, a payment for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The Oregon Dept. of Energy is providing a $4.5 million loan to finance the project.