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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAtllas Ahtna NarrativeCoeur d’Alene Fiber Fuels, Inc. / Atlas Pellets - Alaska Proposal Overview & History: Coeur d’Alene Fiber Fuels, Inc. (CDAFF) was in operation on the Stimson Lumber property from1986-2006 producing Atlas Pellets, a renewable energy product, along with many other wood-based products. In 2007 the Coeur d’Alene plant was relocated to Hauser Idaho. CDAFF provides excellent wages to 37 area employees, many who have been with the company for over 10 years. In addition to it’s Hauser operation, CDAFF also owns and operates a sister plant in Omak WA that has 17 employees, and is located on the Colville Indian Reservation and owns a pellet plant in Shelton Washington. The combined production capacity is currently 120,000 tons. CDAFF is a family-owned business that manages an earth-friendly operation, which reduces our areas dependence on fossil fuels. Each ton of wood pellets used for heat saves 2.8 barrels of oil. CDAFF annually sells over 80,000 tons of pellets, thereby eliminating the use of over 224,000 barrels of oil each year. Existing Operation: Sim ply put, CDAFF is a renewable energy company. It uses wood “waste” from regional lumber mills to produce wood pellets for residential & industrial heating as well as animal bedding. The brand name Atlas Pellets is nationally recognized as the industries standard for quality and the finest premium product in the marketplace. CDAFF sells wholesale by the semi-trailer load, mainly to regional hardware stores, farm & feed stores and other regional box stores. In addition, CDAFF sells “seconds” to local customers at discounted rates. Currently an average of 13 trucks per day deliver raw product (sawdust and shavings) to the plant. Outside in the existing yard, this raw product is mixed and delivered into the dryer by a front-end loader, where it is dried to a specific moisture content. This process produces steam, which is emitted through a stack on-site. The dried product is then compressed into pellets without using any additives or binders. The pellets are bagged and stacked onto pallets (each pallet contains one ton of product), which are transported by forklift into the yard and stacked two high. Trucks enter the property and, after checking in at the office, are loaded in the yard or at the loading dock. Proposed Alaska Pellet Plant: CDAFF proposes to build a completely new plant on a minimum of 10 acres. All components will be state-of-the-art, allowing CDAFF to further improve it’s operations. Although we are not adding any “new” operations, we view this as an incredible opportunity to enhance our current operations. The new 15,000 SF pellet plant will include new pelleting mills, and the automatic bagging and palletizing of the finished product. The new burner, dryer and stack will be located inside the pellet plant, screened from public view and covered by a roof to protect the equipment from the elements. All raw product (sawdust/chips) delivered to CDAFF will be stored in bunkers covered by a roof, which will be located on the property. Placing this material under a roof will keep it dryer and will keep it from blowing away/around. This bunker design also allows for the handling of the raw product to be automated, further reducing the potential of sawdust blowing. A staging area for the storage and loading of finished pallets will be located on the pellet plant site, away from public view. The development described above is intended and designed for a 10-acre lot or area. Why This Request Should Be Funded: CDAFF will met or exceeded all code requirements, including compliance with all applicable Performance Standards. This development will not negatively affect the public’s health, safety and general welfare and has implemented the necessary design elements to ensure protection of the community’s environment. Shelton Plant Corporate Headquarters 1333 E. Johns Prairie Road 16620 W. Prairie Ave. Shelton, WA. 98584 Hauser, ID. 83854 (360) 462-2800 ph Phone 208-262-2415 Fax 208-262-2425 (360) 462-2802 e-mail info@atlaspellets.com Omak Plant Wood Pellets 325 Omak Riverside Eastside Road Omak WA 98841 Owned by Coeur d’Alene Fiber Fuels, Inc. Phone 509-826-2059 Fax 509-826-3435  Page 2 September 25, 2023 CDAFF is an earth-friendly operation that should be considered a “highest and best use” for this industrial zoned land. This site is an excellent choice for a new plant. It is compatible with the existing industrial uses in the and has incorporated the environmental and visual concerns of the community into its design. This site design also turns it’s best side out, utilizing the buildings and landscaping as a screen from the public view. The size of this site provides ample space for our operation to carry on, now and in the future. CDAFF has and shall continue to be a community leader, proudly providing an option to our areas dependency on fossil fuels. CDAFF remains committed to our customers, our employees and to the future of our local community by funding this project CDAFF can proceed on a condensed timeline in order to successfully begin building the new facilities in Alaska. Public Interest: This pellet plant does not negatively impact any neighbors or the public. It significantly benefits the public by providing an alternative energy product at reasonable rates, significantly reducing the energy bills of area residents without adversely effecting the environment. This locally produced product is earth friendly. Burning Atlas Pellets releases less green house pollutants than burning natural gas and reduces our areas dependence on fossil fuels. Funding this quality business will create 17 jobs and provide affordable heat. And remember, we pay taxes too.