Shuttered Peninsula Plywood mill in Port Angeles, Washington, retains power supply after paying monthly US$20,500 utility bill within an hour of disconnection deadline
Wendy Lisney
LOS ANGELES
,
December 1, 2011
(Industry Intelligence)
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The shuttered Peninsula Plywood (PenPly) mill in Port Angeles, Washington, has retained its power supply after a power bill was paid just in time to prevent the disconnection of its utilities, the Peninsula Daily News reported on Nov. 30.
The monthly utility bill of US$20,500 was paid at about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, within an hour or the 5 p.m. deadline, said city manager Kent Myers.
The company's President Josh Renshaw, now the company’s sole employee, said last week that he was working with the mill's investors to try and restart the facility.
The mill still owes the city $293,092 in utility bills, even after the city forgives an additional $5,842 in interest. Myers said the city council would discuss the outstanding bills at its next meeting.
PenPly also owes the Port of Port Angeles $82,783 in rent, with a further monthly payment of $16,991 due on Wednesday. The latest payment includes $1,757 in deferred rent that the mill was scheduled to begin paying this month under its lease agreement.
Port Executive Director Jeff Robb said Renshaw had assured him that the company will meet the overdue payments if it is able to refinance and start production again. Robb said there was little the port could do to recover the costs if PenPly remained unable to pay.
Robb said PenPly’s log debarking operation could be expanded for exports to China if plywood production can not restart.
The mill employed about 130 people at its peak in July, but laid off its remaining 15 employees two weeks ago.
The primary source of this article is the Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, Washington, on Nov. 30, 2011.
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