Stockwell Day Officially Announces Paradigm Microsludge® Trial in Catalyst’s Crofton Paper Mill
On Friday December 10th, Federal Minister Stockwell Day announced the project that could revolutionize BC’s Pulp and Paper Industry.
Federal minister for the Asia Pacific Gateway, Stockwell Day, was so committed to the project that he provided $2.5-million of taxpayer money to help fund the project.
North Cowichan Mayor Tom Walker also highly supported the project which turns Waste Activated Sludge (WAS), a by-product of the pulp and paper making process, and creates energy that can be used to power the plant.
“It’s good for the environment and it creates energy from sludge,” he said
Totaling $6.1-million, this waste-reduction and energy-creation Microsludge® project will demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology, developed by Paradigm Environmental Technologies. This announcement means good news for investors of GreenAngel Energy, a stakeholder in Paradigm Environmental Technologies. GreenAngel Energy (TSX.V:GAE) provides any investor access to six strongly positioned, growth-oriented, private green technology companies. The approach provides shareholders in GAE with the opportunity to invest in green energy and technology companies at very early stages when valuations are low, with the objective of providing substantial financial gains. Learn more about public green investment, or visit GreenAngel Energy’s website.
During Stockwell Day’s speech on Friday he indicated that the project could save the mill some $7 million in annual energy and waste treatment costs, as Catalyst’s Cowichan plant produces 20 tons of sludge daily.
The pilot project, which will be operational by February, will initially reduce Crofton’s daily sludge output by about two percent. Once the full-scale system is in place, the 20 tonnes currently created could be cut in half while simultaneously producing usable energy for the plant.
“Given a full-scale biogas and waste-reduction system, those 20 tonnes would drop to 10 tonnes daily”, technical agents said.
Waste treatment and energy cost savings could also help secure the mill’s 525 jobs, which significantly support the region. This is good news in light of the current issue with Catalyst’s mill, which owes nearly $6-million in taxes.
Mayor Walker stated, “This project gives us more confidence Catalyst will stay here for the longer term — outside of these little disputes.”
Stockwell Day called the cutting-edge project a “win-win-win” for the environment, the economy, and B.C.’s weakened forest industry. The minister for B.C. noted methane gas made in the complex system would mean the mill uses less of the more costly natural gas. Learn more about how Paradigm’s Microsludge® Technology creates energy from waste.
The $6.1-million Microsludge®-BC Pulp and Paper Industry project, along with the the government has been funded by several other organizations, including Catalyst Paper. Other investors in the pilot include B.C.’s forests ministry ($1 million), and the B.C. Bioenergy Network and Elemental Energy ($1.5 million). In-kind contributions came from Elemental Energy and Paradigm, in conjunction with UBC.
MicroSludge technology could also be bought to treat Cowichan’s rising sewage-waste volume.
“We’re watching this technology, as Crofton’s sewage plant is now being upgraded “we haven’t settled on technology for the Joint Utilities Board plant (near Duncan), so we’d look at this and all options,” Mayor Walker said.