U.S. Papermaker Begins Transition To Carbon-Neutral, 100% Biomass Energy
Production
HAMILTON, Ohio, May 13 /CNW/ --Highlights:- Construction Underway On New, High-Efficiency Co-Generation Power
Plant, Completion Set for Spring 2009- By Late 2009, All Brands Produced At Southern Ohio Papermaking Center
Will Be Made With 100% Renewable Energy- New Co-Generation System To Be Transitioned To Carbon-Neutral Biomass
Fuel; Company To Be Highly Cost Competitive, Fully Energy Independent
And Fossil Fuel-Free- SMART Papers Will Supply 'Green,' Renewable Energy To Ohio And Midwest
U.S. By Late 2010- Substantive Environmental Advance - Project Will Also Generate Carbon
Credits- 115-Year-Old Papermaker, Originator Of Coated Paper For Magazines,
Positioned For Long-Term Success In An Era Of Energy Volatility - And A
Carbon-Restricted Global EconomySMART Papers has begun construction on a new $30 million high-efficiency
energy co-generation facility at its manufacturing center here that marks an
important first for the North American papermaking industry. By early 2009,
SMART Papers will produce all of its own power and begin a transition to 100%
cellulosic biomass fuel. By late 2009, all products will be fully carbon
neutral and produced 100% fossil fuel free, company officials said.(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080513/CLTU031LOGO )SMART Papers, which makes premium coated and uncoated printing papers for
businesses and consumers, including Fortune 500 companies, said its products
will be carbon-neutral because its manufacturing center will be powered by
100% biomass, primarily yard waste as well as industrial wood and fiber waste.
Biomass emits no net carbon dioxide because the carbon in the biomass
originates from carbon dioxide that was recently in the atmosphere.
The project's full scope will enable SMART Papers to significantly reduce
greenhouse gas emissions at its Hamilton manufacturing facility, located 25
miles northwest of Cincinnati. No food crops will be used, no farmland will
be displaced and no timber will be harvested to provide fuel, the company
said.
The $30 million investment and drive to achieve full carbon neutrality at
SMART Papers comes as the State of Ohio and the U.S. government develop new
laws and regulations on carbon emissions. The Ohio Senate and House recently
passed legislation, which requires that up to 12.5 percent of the state's
electricity consumption come from renewable sources by 2025. Under the law,
half of that must be generated within Ohio.
SMART Papers officials said they are well positioned to play an important
role in helping the State of Ohio meet its goal because the company will sell
a significant amount of power on the electrical grid. By the end of 2010, all
of the power supplied to the regional grid will be carbon neutral -- providing
a source of 100% "green" energy for businesses and homes throughout Ohio and
the Midwest U.S.Details on the new projectThe newly expanded 40-megawatt co-generation system, which ultimately
will use 100% biomass fuel to generate electricity and steam to operate the
mill, consists of four turbines, two condensers, a cooling tower and auxiliary
equipment.
Honeywell International supplied the co-generation system and is
supervising project construction at the SMART Papers facility. Construction
began in late April and is expected to be complete by Spring 2009. The
company has received all necessary permits for the project.
The move solidly positions the 115-year-old manufacturing center and its
550 employees for the future. SMART Papers will use a low-cost and plentiful
supply of renewable fuel and will be fully energy independent. The facility,
one of the oldest continuously operating paper mills in the U.S., is where
coated magazine papers, coated two-side papers and ultra-premium cast-coated
printing papers were invented and first produced.SMART Papers Leaders Discuss Significance"SMART Papers is the first North American premium papermaker to begin the
process of becoming truly 100% carbon neutral and fossil fuel free in its
papermaking production," said SMART Papers Chairman Tim Needham. "This is a
major environmental advance in papermaking -- we have set a new standard for
environmentally responsible printing papers.
"The production of these papers will leave the lightest environmental
footprint of any premium coated or uncoated printing paper produced in North
America," Needham added.
The SMART Papers manufacturing center was an early industry leader in the
production of 100% recycled premium printing papers -- and the company has
continued to expand its environmental leadership. It currently uses up to
100% post-consumer waste to produce many of its premium coated and uncoated
papers. It also has Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for the
majority of its brands. "We are committed to being the green leader in the
global paper manufacturing industry," Needham said.
"This move to carbon-neutral production is the centerpiece of our
environmental and energy strategies. It enables us to have a future that is
completely independent of volatile energy markets," said Dan Maheu, President
and COO of SMART Papers. "We will reduce production costs, make
carbon-neutral papers and greatly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. We
will also be a positive contributor to the green power needs of Ohio and the
Midwest."
Maheu said SMART Papers has bought and sold power from the local utility
for the last 10 years. But the current power generation facility at the mill
did not maximize return of its fuel inputs. New turbines were needed to
substantially increase the amount of electrical energy that could be produced.
The biomass fuel that will be used in the co-generation facility is made
up of short-fiber cellulosic waste material that is typically landfilled.
Biomass is widely available in the region. The State of Ohio ranks No. 7
nationwide in the availability of biomass stocks, according to the U.S.
Department of Energy.
SMART Papers said the project will generate carbon credits that can be
bought and sold on the open market.
"We see our approach as the smart choice," said Maheu. "We will be a
more efficient manufacturer, fiscally and environmentally responsible, and
energy independent. This will benefit our business, our customers, our
employees and the environment. We will always push to exceed customer
expectations when it comes to environmental stewardship."About SMART PapersHamilton, Ohio-based SMART Papers is the largest North American
manufacturer and marketer of environmentally responsible, premium cast coated,
matte coated and uncoated text, cover and writing papers. The company markets
a wide range of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified premium papers to
paper distributors, printers, designers and specialty converters in North
America, Europe and Asia. It also sells papers directly to consumers.
SMART Papers well-known brands include Kromekote(R), Knightkote(R) Matte,
SMART Digital(TM), Pegasus(R), Carnival(R), Synergy(R), Passport(R),
Genesis(R), Magna Carta(R), SMART Brights(R), Feltweave(R), Nekoosa(R) Linen,
Nekoosa(R) 25% Cotton, Nekoosa(R) Bond, Skytone(R), Solutions(R) and
Proterra(R).
SMART Papers Hamilton manufacturing center is a zero process waste
discharge facility. All products are process chlorine free, elemental
chlorine free and acid free. All pulp is certified by one or more of the
following third-party organizations: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),
the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Programme for the Endorsement
of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
Many of the papers contain up to 100% post-consumer waste fibers. Among
premium papermakers, SMART Papers is one of North America's largest users of
recycled fibers as a percentage of total paper production.
SMART Papers supplies branded and specialty papers for wide range of
applications including corporate brochure and identity programs, annual
reports, consumer labels and tags, high-end consumer packaging, digital
printing papers, business and personal stationery, greeting and holiday cards,
invitations with matching envelopes, direct mail, security papers, tickets and
gift wrap. Please visit www.smartpapers.com, call 800-443-9773, or contact
your local paper merchant for more information. Customers may also order
papers in any quantity at www.smartpapersstore.com .
For further information: Tim Needham, Chairman, +1-513-869-4203, or Dan
Maheu, President and Chief Operating Officer, +1-513-869-4202, both of SMART
Papers Web Site: http://smartpapers.com
http://smartpapersstore.com
