ReEnergy: good for the environment
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
ASHLAND — State and local officials gathered at the ReEnergy plant on Oct. 2, celebrating the re-opening of the wood-to-electricity facility.
Staff photos/Kathy McCarty
FLIPPING THE SWITCH — Gov. Paul LePage had the pleasure of flipping the switch that symbolically marked the re-start of the ReEnergy plant on the Realty Road in Ashland on Oct. 2. Pictured from left are: Mark Thibodeau, facility manager; Tom Beck, ReEnergy’s chief commercial officer; LePage and Sen. Angus King.
MARK THIBODEAU, at left, facility manager of the ReEnergy plant in Ashland, welcomes Gov. Paul LePage to the Oct. 2 festivities marking the reopening of the bioenergy plant. 
“The plant has been idle since March 2011 but we’re prepared to be up later this fall,” said Mark Thibodeau, facility manager.
Thibodeau said the celebration was a kickoff of sorts for a national event later this month.
“We’re also celebrating National Bioenergy Day, which is Oct. 22. We’re getting a head start. It makes sense for Maine to have the first celebration,” he said.
ReEnergy uses wood byproducts to create electricity, which, according to Thibodeau, “just makes sense.”
“In Maine we have the common sense to use indigenous resources whenever we can. We’ll create five jobs (direct and indirect) per megawatt or 1,300 jobs in Maine when open, by making use of a local fuel supply,” said Thibodeau.
He went on to thank all who made the reopening of the facility possible.
“The restart of the Ashland facility was made possible through key stakeholders, like Tom Beck (chief commercial officer of ReEnergy in Latham) and the state of Maine,” Thibodeau said.
Thibodeau estimated the plant has the capacity to generate about 284,000 MWh of electricity each year — enough to supply about 37,000 homes. He noted in addition to the approximately 25 jobs created at the plant, numerous indirect jobs — including many in the logging industry — will be created as a result of the facility being back on line.
Gov. Paul LePage was also on hand for the festivities, thanking company officials for investing in Aroostook County and restarting the plant.
“For the last four years Maine’s tried to become a partner with the private sector, to have these jobs. Today is a great day — a boost to the area,” said LePage.
“ReEnergy will be buying millions in product and will put about $20 million in the local economy each year,” said the governor.
LePage praised the company’s efforts to promote a sustainable method of producing electricity. He said the jobs created, both directly and indirectly, are greatly needed in the region and the state.
“Maine is on the verge, with places like Washington and Aroostook some of the poorest counties. We’re changing the culture from ‘no,’ to ‘let’s partner,’” said LePage.
Sen. Angus King was on hand for the celebration, expressing his appreciation for the efforts involved in getting the Ashland plant open again.
“It’s important to be in a partnership to solve, not create, problems. I’m glad to be in the boom town of Maine today — Ashland,” said King.
King said there are three things needed to create jobs.
“Energy from within Maine, using a source we control. The money stays here for the energy source. Second, we need a diverse energy base. We learned the danger with the pipeline construction. You need more diversity — bioenergy, solar, wind, natural gas. We also need protection from rising costs. Maine is sustainable. Our motto should be ‘We can do it ourselves,’” said King.
King said the state’s actual motto, ‘Dirigo,’ embodies ReEnergy.
“‘Dirigo’ means ‘I lead.’ What ReEnergy is doing is leading,” said King.
To mark the official opening, Thibodeau, LePage and King, joined by others from ReEnergy, gathered to pull a switch, which dumped a load of wood chips destined to be processed at the plant to create electricity.
