Area seeks to diversify industry: Greenstone explores cogeneration in response to mill shutdown. (Special Report: Forestry).Greenstone green·stone n. Any of various altered basic igneous rocks colored green by chlorite, hornblende, or epidote. greenstone Noun NZ a type of green jade used for Maori carvings and ornaments Mayor Charles Primeau wants to see a green industrial park developed in the former town of Longlac, located 400 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay Thunder Bay, city (1991 pop. 113,946), SW Ont., Canada, on Thunder Bay inlet of Lake Superior. The city was created in 1970 by the amalgamation of the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur and two adjoining townships. . "There is a lot of green energy legislation coming (from senior levels of government)," Primeau says, "and it makes such a park attractive." Greenstone, which includes the communities of Geraldton, Beardmore and Longlac, was given $85,000 by FedNor late last year to investigate the establishment of the park at Longlac. If established, the green industrial park would create clean energy by burning hog fuel (waste wood and bark bark, sailing vessel bark or barque (both: bärk), sailing vessel with three masts, of which the mainmast and the foremast are square-rigged while the mizzenmast is fore-and-aft-rigged. ) from the area's four mills to produce clean thermal and electrical energy. Through a cogeneration cogeneration In power systems, use of steam for both power generation and heating. High-temperature, high-pressure steam from a boiler and superheater first passes through a turbine to produce power. agreement the energy would be sold to companies established in the community's proposed industrial park. Primeau says the town hopes to partner with the Ginoogaming First Nation in developing the green industrial park. The FedNor grant was also intended for the development of a community recovery plan and an adjustment committee, following Longlac Wood Industries' decision to cease operations indefinitely in·def·i·nite adj. Not definite, especially: a. Unclear; vague. b. Lacking precise limits: an indefinite leave of absence. c. Nov. 9, 2001. The plant was closed for two months, after the market for the company's products "turned around a little," Primeau says. Longlac Wood Industries produces plywood plywood, manufactured board composed of an odd number of thin sheets of wood glued together under pressure with grains of the successive layers at right angles. Laminated wood differs from plywood in that the grains of its sheets are parallel. and waferboard and employs 400 at its two mills in the community. The shutdown shut·down n. A cessation of operations or activity, as at a factory. shutdown Noun the closing of a factory, shop, or other business Verb shut down was not a surprise, says Primeau. "(Longlac Wood Industries) had been taking losses at the two mills for months (prior to the shutdown)," Primeau says. Officials at Longlac Wood Industries could not be reached for comment. The company is working with the union to reduce costs, Primeau says. Both the company and union have also agreed to wait until the union contract is up in May 2002 before tackling the sensitive issue of wages and major concessions, he says. Some management employees were laid off at Longlac Wood Industries' two mills, and not all the unionized employees were recalled. The adjustment committee is assisting these people with the preparation of resumes and job hunting, Primeau says. |
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