RUMFORD – The newly created position of assistant director for the Fractionation Development Center has been filled by a graduate of the State University of New York at Syracuse.
Center Director Scott Christiansen said that Todd Polanowicz of Cicero, N.Y., will begin his duties Monday.
Polanowicz has worked in biomass technology for several years while attending the university. His master’s degree is in plant science and biotechnology. He also has a law degree.
He was chosen from a pool of about a dozen applicants and three finalists, Christiansen said.
Although Christiansen would not divulge Polanowicz’s starting salary, the advertised compensation was $40,000 to $50,000 a year.
Polanowicz will concentrate on working out the details and legal matters associated with the establishment of Maine Bio-Diesel, a fledgling company that is expected to produce fuel from mill residue, and then, during a later phase of the project, from forests.
Maine Bio-Diesel is jointly owned by the center, Frontier Energy in South China, a company that sells bio-diesel fuel, and S.C. Fuels of Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Christiansen said the center has been working with the Canadian and South China companies for sometime to develop alternate uses for wood products.
He said he tentatively expects a bio-diesel plant to be up and running in the River Valley within a year.
Comments are no longer available on this story