RETROFIT¦ But things have turned around since then, and a tree-based business will soon serve as an employment and economic boon to the town. Berlin’s paper mill is alive again, undergoing a major transformation into a wood-fired biomass power plant.
Something Old to Something New Originally part of Berlin Mills Company, the mill was renamed Brown Company during World War II because of anti-German sentiment. It changed ownership multiple times over the years, last operating under ownership of Fraser Paper, according to Alexandra Ritchie of Cate Street Capital. For many years, it was the biggest job and revenue source in the area. Cate Street Capital, an investment firm focused on financing green projects, acquired the mill in 2008, acting on the opportunity to convert the existing infrastructure into something else—something the city and region could both benefit from. “It [the 2006 mill closure] was a devastating blow to the area, because there were so many people employed there,” explains Ritchie. “During the [early] development process, we were able to see firsthand what happens when a mill closes, as another area mill temporarily closed.” Fortunately that mill has since reopened, but Ritchie points out the trickle effect these kinds of closures have on the
HEADS UP: Burgess BioPower is requiring a substantial amount of new construction, but Cate Street Capital is utilizing much of the former paper mill's existing infrastructure.
SEPTEMBER 2012 | BIOMASS MAGAZINE 27