The earth moved today in Hayward as plans for a 6-million dollar pellet plant got the green light.
Julie Pearce was there for the ceremonial groundbreaking for Great Lakes Renewable Energy and has more on what the timber-based project will do for Sawyer County.
The smell of freshly moved earth was in the air Monday afternoon as dozens of supporters and officials gathered to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking for a major pellet plant in Hayward.
Everything has come to a head now.
The planning is finished, the paperwork is completed, and the permits are in place.
It's a major milestone for Great Lakes Renewable Energy.
The plant will produce an estimated 36- thousand tons of wood pellets each year, employ about 20 full-time workers, a dozen loggers, and another 50 temporary construction jobs.
Mike Bock with Dairy State Bank says its not only a new business to start here, "but it starts to help the rest of the community because other businesses tie into this as time grows."
Mike Severson, one of the partners with Great Lakes Renewable Energy believes its going to have a trickle-down effect, "Our pulp and paper industry in this state has been leaving at rather rapid pace, so we're needing a home for some of our poor quality wood that we have left over. So, this will hopefully take that niche."
The sight is located about 4 miles south of Hayward.
It's also located centrally to many of the raw products the project will be using.
General Manager Herb Seeger elaborates, "North and east a lot of pine and soft wood products... south and west a lot of hardwood products, and we need both for our recipe, so we couldn't be any better located than we are now to the fiber source."
Wisconsin Senator Bob Jauch and Representative Gary Sherman attended the ceremony today.
They feel the effects of the plant could be far reaching for the Wisconsin timber industry.
With construction set to begin in the next couple of weeks, those benefits will be coming sooner than later.
Besides wood pellets, the plant will also be producing bedding for large animals and small pets.Northlands News Center
