NorthWestern Energy wants to talk with Smurfit about possible biomass plant at Frenchtown mill

NorthWestern Energy told state lawmakers Friday that a Frenchtown linerboard plant soon to be shuttered by Smurfit-Stone Container could make a good location for a biomass energy production facility – but no firm plans are in place.

Northwestern Energy said entering talks about such a plan with Smurfit-Stone would be premature until that company emerges from bankruptcy.

"We have contacted Smurfit and told them we would be interested in having a conversation with them about that facility," company lobbyist John Fitzpatrick told the legislative Environmental Quality Council.

But getting the plant would just be the first of many big issues to deal with, he said.

A biomass plant would burn wood to make electricity using a conventional boiler system. It would be used as a source of primary power for NorthWestern, and would not be suitable as "firming" power for other alternative energy sources like solar and wind, Fitzpatrick testified.

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