Energy News Roundup: September 29-October 5

This week in regional energy news . . .

• The Maine DEP has issued the final environmental permit required for the Millinocket paper mill to operate its torrefied wood facility. From wood waste, the facility will produce torrefied wood, which is a cleaner-burning fuel to be used by coal plants in Europe. 
• At deliberations yesterday, the three commissioners of the Maine Public Utilities Commission addressed comments received regarding offshore wind projects in Maine.  Commissioners Welch and Vannoy questioned the electricity savings from Statoil’s Hywind Maine offshore turbine project, and sought additional information from Statoil.  Commissioner Littell found Statoil’s representations sufficient and saw savings for Maine in its proposal.
• Dead River, the Maine oil supplier, is getting into the electricity supply business.  Dead River intends to serve customers in the residential and commercial classes, performing services similar to Electricity Maine and Gulf Electricity described in these prior posts.