Weyerhaeuser's Grande Prairie Mill Gets C$32 Million in Green Transformation Funds

Weyerhaeuser's Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, pulp mill will receive more than $32 million from the Canadian Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program. Weyerhaeuser will invest its credits in a new turbine generator so that the Grande Prairie mill can better meet its own energy needs and sell excess electricity to the grid. As a result, some 2,800 homes in regions that need electricity will have access to carbon-neutral power.

"At a time when the global economy is still fragile, clean energy projects are helping to drive the transformation of Canada's forest sector toward a more secure future," said Rob Merrifield, Minister of State for Transport. "Challenging market conditions have pushed this industry to seek out new partnerships and explore the broad range of products wood can yield. Through strategic investments, our government is helping create the conditions for success today and beyond."

The total value of the turbine generator project is approximately $50 million. The Government of Alberta is contributing $4.5 million and Weyerhaeuser is investing the remaining amount.

"Alberta's bioenergy programs support companies like Weyerhaeuser as they improve their environmental performance and increase their production of renewable energy," said Wayne Drysdale, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Grande Prairie–Wapiti. "This project is a win for the paper and pulp sector as it becomes more environmentally sustainable, a win for Alberta as we achieve cleaner energy production, and a win for our communities as new funding for projects continues to attract new private sector investment to Alberta."

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