News From Maine’s Forests

Bangor developer aims to bring biorefinery, jobs to former Lincoln mill site

A Bangor-based developer of alternative fuels derived from wood waste is looking to locate a biofuels refinery on the former Lincoln Paper and Tissue site in Lincoln — and potentially create 200 jobs there. Biofine Developments Northeast Inc. of Maine, the town of Lincoln and the Lincoln Lakes Innovation Corp. last week announced a tentative agreement […]

New federal relief will provide $200M for logging industry

The logging industry has seen a steep decline in demand for wood fiber since the pandemic began, leading to an estimated 20% drop in the timber harvest this year. But federal help may be on the way. Beginning Thursday, the Loggers Relief Act makes $200 million available for logging and log hauling businesses that have […]

Ashland markets newly purchased 94-acre parcel for commercial, industrial use

The town of Ashland has acquired a 94-acre parcel of land and plans to develop it for mixed commercial and industrial use, according to a news release Thursday.

Ongoing research collaboration brings forest bioproducts to Bangor middle schoolers

Ashley Forbes, ashley.forbes@maine.edu June 25, 2021 This year, when eighth graders Ian Blackwell and Nik Horton were looking for a project for the Maine State Middle School Science & Engineering Fair, they spotted a spiffy varnished wood box tricked out with bracing and hardware in their science classroom at the James F. Doughty School in Bangor, […]

RFP: Timber Harvesting Equipment Transportation Efficiency Study

Issue Date: June 15, 2021Closing Date: July 2, 2021 Purpose of the RFP Existing regulations currently prohibit the movement of oversized timber harvesting equipment and oversized low-beds at night in most of the state. The FOR/Maine Transportation Committee is seeking proposals for a study to be completed that will consider the feasibility of expanding the […]

Rock Row development begins new phase with a new construction material, a first for Maine

By Maureen Milliken Developers of Rock Row in Westbrook have announced the launch of the commercial phase of the massive mixed-use development, and there’s a twist. This phase will include Maine’s first commercial building constructed from cross-laminated timber.

Ashland looks to generate investment around new forest industry product

May 14, 2021 By Maureen Milliken The town of Ashland is launching a development program, Original Mass Timber Maine, that aims to build markets for structural round timber, a low-cost and carbon-friendly building product that is a perfect fit for the state’s forest industry, those behind the initative say. The three-year project, funded by a grant to […]

As Maine forest products initiative advances, workforce shortage remains an issue

April 6, 2021 By Maureen Milliken The issue for Maine’s forest product industry after a year of a pandemic economy is one it faced before the pandemic — finding the workforce to cut down, haul and manage the timber and the products it produces. When Forest Opportunity Roadmap/Maine, a coaltion of industry stakeholders, was formed in 2018, the focus […]

Mainers have little awareness about full range of forest products industry, survey shows

A public survey released Thursday shows Mainers are generally bullish about the future of the state’s forest products industry, but have little awareness of how it’s changing. Of nearly 500 survey respondents throughout the state, 80% would recommend Maine students consider a forest-related job. FOR/Maine, a public-private coalition promoting the forest products industry, conducted the […]

Biocarbon processing plant plans to locate at East Millinocket mill site

new Maine company plans to build a plant that will sequester carbon from Maine forests at the former Great Northern paper mill site in East Millinocket. Standard Biocarbon Corp. has signed a letter of intent with the East Millinocket Industrials Inc. board of directors to site a pyrolysis plant at the former mill site. If completed […]