A Washington state developer with ideas of turning organic waste into new products is coming to town to look over the former mill property near 6-Mile, lay out his ideas and answer questions from community officials.
The borough plans to assemble most everyone from City Hall with an interest in development of the property, including members of the assembly, planning and zoning commission, port commission and economic development board. Officials will hear from Borgford BioEnergy, which set up a new company this year, Alaska BioEnergy. The open-to-the-public workshop — no formal action will be taken — is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at City Hall.
The meeting is not a Q and A with the public; that would come later, if the company and the borough want to proceed. First, borough officials want to learn more — and they have a lot of questions.
“Avoid getting starstruck by an opportunity,” cautioned Kate Thomas, the borough’s economic development director, last week. The meeting is the first step in a vetting process, she said.
No doubt the town would like to find a buyer or long-term, large-area tenant for the mill property, which the borough bought from the owner of the closed sawmill for $2.5 million in 2022. Since then, City Hall has advertised, promoted and hoped for someone to invest money and create jobs at the site.
In its preliminary pitch to the borough, Borgford BioEnergy said its goal for the mill property would be to construct and operate a “low profile … plant capable of converting locally generated biomass waste material, including municipal solid waste, into fresh water, food and other valuable products.”
The company said its unique “bio-burning technology” developed by Dale Borgford, the company’s co-owner, is capable of producing higher temperatures than conventional biomass burners. But the company currently has no such plants in operation. That alone is a good reason for Wrangell to wear its skeptical hat. Being first can be rewarding, but it also can be a mistake.
Austin O’Brien, a member of Wrangell’s economic development board, wisely asked at last week’s board meeting whether the town even produces enough biowaste to fuel such a facility.
Borough officials are expected to ask those kinds of questions, and a lot more, as they listen to Borgford’s presentation next week. The more questions, the better.
- Wrangell Sentinel
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