Boldt to build 50MW biomass plant for Wisconsin paper mill

April 5, 2010

Wisconsin utility We Energies has awarded a $255 million construction contract to The Boldt Company to build a 50-megawatt biomass cogeneration plant in the state.

The facility is to be built at the Domtar Paper Mill in Rothschild, and would use forest residues and waste wood to generate power.

The project still needs approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, but if approved could see construction beginning in the Spring of 2011.

We Energies is developing the biomass plant as part of its efforts to source 10% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015, under the state’s Renewable Electricity Standard.

Boldt

Boldt, which has its headquarters in Appleton, Wisconsin, is currently working on several bioenergy plants among the 30 power projects it has in construction around the US.

The firm was named earlier this month as part of a group of companies building We Energies’ large wind farm at Glacier Hills, Wisconsin (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

Boldt’s history in building bioenergy facilities includes the two wood-fired biomass units for the Laurentian Energy Authority in Hibbing and Virginia, Minnesota, completed in January 2007 to offer 35MW of generating capacity.

The company build a new ethanol plant for Archer Daniels Midland in Nebraska, completing work in January 2009.