BRATTLEBORO, VT, June 30, 2020 (Local News) -As plans move forward to replace natural gas with biomass from wood for energy needs at Long Falls Paperboard, the company received a chunk of funds from the federal government to help purchase new technology for a boiler.

Mike Cammenga, principal of Long Falls, said his group received an initial $250,000 Wood Innovations grant via the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. He anticipates a matching grant will bring the total contribution to $500,000 for assist with purchasing the equipment at about $1.5 million.

"That grant really won't take effect until purchase orders start to get written for equipment," he said.

He estimates engineering and studies could take a year to 16 months to complete. His Washington-based firm took over the former Neenah Paper Inc. plant in Brattleboro in January 2019.

Brattleboro Reformer - Long Falls secures grant for biomass project