Biomass plant faces hurdles to remain open

RYEGATE—With the future of the Ryegate biomass plant up in the air, a state study has found that its closure would negatively impact the regional economy and electricity production.
According to the study, published in March, the plant’s closure could devastate the area’s logging industry, eliminate some $14 million of economic activity from the region and take 160,000 megawatts hours of electricity off the market.
It would also affect the tax base of the small town of Ryegate, causing a tax increase.