Firewood sellers blame Fort Drum biomass plant for lumber shortage

Firewood sellers say they believe a severe timber shortage this winter has been caused partly by loggers supplying wood chips to the Fort Drum biomass facility. But officials at ReEnergy say restrictions on the wood used there shouldn’t affect the firewood supply. Continue....

Waddington could see solar panels up by spring

WADDINGTON – Some of the town’s buildings could be running on solar power by spring. Continue...

Cuomo to soon decide fate of biodiesel law for heating oil

CANTON - Legislation that would require all heating oil sold in the state to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel fuel by July 2015 has reached the desk of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who will decide the bill’s fate by the end of January. Continue...

Downed trees from across Jefferson County could be heading to biomass plant

FORT DRUM — Fallen tree limbs and other debris from recent storms across the north country may get new life as fuel at ReEnergy Holdings LLC’s Black River biomass facility on post.

The company is in discussions with the city of Watertown to pick up its debris, and a meeting will be held next week for the company to talk with highway superintendents across Jefferson County. The company also planned to reach out to St. Lawrence County municipalities to discuss collecting their debris. Continue...