RUMFORD — NewPage Corp. is one of seven paper mills in Maine to receive an energy efficiency grant to help reduce the use of fossil fuels, decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and support local jobs.

The mill was notified Wednesday that it will receive $300,000, which will be matched by the company, to reduce energy consumption through an efficient waste heat recovery process, mill spokeswoman Janet Hall said. Engineers and other employees in-house will design, supervise and construct the project that will capture waste heat by diverting one of the mill’s water systems to other water applications.

Hall said the process will reduce the need for oil, gas, biomass and coal.

According to the grant application written in November, carbon dioxide emissions are expected to be reduced by 94,500 tons.
The project is expected to begin as soon as the funds are received and to be completed within a year.

Hall said the conservation project will not affect current employment at the mill, which has experienced about 130 layoffs during the past year.

The grant is good news for the local mill.

“We’re always looking for ways to reduce energy and energy costs,” Hall said.

A total of $8.9 million was awarded under Maine’s Industrial Grant Program, which is administered by the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Those funds come from the federal Recovery Act and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

According to Gov. John Baldacci’s new release, the value of grant applications was based on how well projects added value to the state’s economy, saved energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine worked with the governor, Maine industry and others to get the grants, the environmental group said.

Other nearby companies that received funding included $2 million for Verso Paper Corp. in Bucksport, $357,000 for Madison Paper, $400,000 for Bowdoin College in Brunswick, and $746,776 for Tex Tech Industries in Monmouth.

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