Lincoln Paper and Tissue, Lincoln, Maine, USA, has signed a contract with local natural gas supplier Bangor Gas that will provide pipeline gas to the mill operations. Pipeline service to the mill will commence in late 2014 and will provide clean natural gas for tissue drying and the lime kiln process. 

Lincoln Paper and Tissue has taken many steps over the years to improve its energy and environmental performance, the company notes. Some of the most recent include a project done in conjunction with Massachusetts based Xpress Natural Gas (XNG) that converted tissue drying hoods from No. 2 fuel oil to liquefied natural gas in February 2012. This August, the company will take the next step by converting the tissue hoods and lime kiln to compressed natural gas (CNG), also with XNG. This step will eliminate nearly all oil usage for process purposes.
 

Keith Van Scotter, CEO of Lincoln Paper and Tissue, said that "we worked very hard with Bangor Gas to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement and we want to thank them for their diligence and commitment in getting the deal completed. The pipeline will also form the foundation for natural gas supply to the Lincoln area," he continued, "We also want to thank Xpress Natural Gas for the excellent support that they provided us during the three year transition from high cost oil to lower cost pipeline natural gas."

Natural gas in the U.S. is the most economical fuel for industrial uses and heating, and supply to Lincoln Paper and Tissue will improve the competitive situation for the mill.