By Alex Nuti – de Biasi, Journal-Opinion

Regulators in Vermont have issued a waiver to permit biomass plants Ryegate Power and the McNeil Generating Station in Burlington to purchase low-grade wood that had been destined for a Glens Falls mill, Finch Paper, before it suddenly discontinued its pulpwood operation in July. 

Typically, per a condition in its permitting, Ryegate’s wood comes from harvests that are initially reviewed by Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists.

“A temporary waiver of [Ryegate’s] harvesting policy requirements would allow wood that was intended for Finch to be sold to the Ryegate Power Station without otherwise required Department of Fish and Wildlife review and approval,” the Vermont Public Utilities Commission order stated.

According to testimony provided to the PUC, Finch purchased approximately 2,000 tons per week of softwood and hardwood from Vermont. It was the primary market for about 40% of the state’s pulp and nearly all its hemlock pulpwood.

The waiver is a short-term solution. It applies only to wood harvested by July 31 or if the harvest had commenced by July 31. The wood must be supplied to Ryegate Power by Dec. 31 and the supplier must certify that the wood was intended for Finch. 

Finch’s pulpwood closure will have far-reaching consequences. 

“It is one of the most impactful events in my 50-plus-year career as a forester in Vermont,” Bill Sargent of North Bennington, Vermont said in the Adirondack Explorer. “The economic impact on loggers, truckers, landowners and anyone involved in the forest products industry in the Northeast is immense.”