Enviva to build 400,000-tonne/year wood pellet manufacturing plant in in Northampton County, North Carolina, its second in the state; new plant received state grant, could be operational in October 2012

Rachel Carter

WASHINGTON , August 5, 2011 (press release) – Plant will Produce High-Quality Biomass Fuel for Utilities and Commercial Customers Worldwide

Enviva LP (“Enviva”), a leading manufacturer of processed biomass fuel in the United States and Europe, today announced plans to build a wood pellet manufacturing facility in Northampton County, N.C. The new plant received grant support from the state’s One North Carolina Fund and could be operational as early as October 2012. This will be Enviva’s second wood pellet facility in North Carolina and will bring 62 jobs to the area.

“The state’s timber industry has been hard hit by forest-product facility closures in the last decade, but new and emerging opportunities in the renewable energy sector are revitalizing the market. Enviva is committed to contributing to the North Carolina timber industry’s expansion and success.”

The Northampton plant is designed to produce 400,000 metric tons of wood pellets annually. When completed, it will bring Enviva’s production in North Carolina to more than 750,000 metric tons annually. The facility will join Enviva’s four other wood pellet plants, including one currently completing construction in Ahoskie, N.C. Production there is planned to begin this October. Wood pellets from both North Carolina plants will be stored and loaded at Enviva’s Chesapeake, Va. deep water port facilities, a key export terminal developed for the safe, reliable storage and handling of its products.

“Worldwide demand for biomass energy continues to increase,” said Enviva Chairman and CEO John Keppler. “Our growing manufacturing footprint in North Carolina, the Southeast U.S. and beyond is a key part of meeting that demand with sustainably manufactured solid-biomass resources.” Keppler continued, “The state’s timber industry has been hard hit by forest-product facility closures in the last decade, but new and emerging opportunities in the renewable energy sector are revitalizing the market. Enviva is committed to contributing to the North Carolina timber industry’s expansion and success.”

“North Carolina is quickly becoming a hub for alternative energy solutions,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “Our terrific business climate, skilled workforce and diverse natural resources make North Carolina an excellent location for the growing biomass industry and other alternative energy producers. Enviva will be a great addition for Northampton County.”

Given the Mid-Atlantic’s responsibly managed and robust wood basket, and Enviva’s established relationships with the state’s timber industry, the region is a focus of Enviva’s future growth plans. As a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified company, Enviva will tap into the region’s resources and strong tradition of sound forest management by locally sourcing all raw materials used in producing the pellets. Enviva’s logging and forestry supply chain will also create new jobs in the area.

The North Carolina facilities will join Enviva’s additional U.S. manufacturing operations in Amory and Wiggins, Miss., as well as a plant in Belgium. With operations throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southern United States, Enviva is positioned as an industry-leading, reliable supplier of sustainable wood biomass to the world’s largest utility and power generation companies.

About Enviva

Enviva’s mission is to become the preferred partner and supplier of sustainably sourced wood pellets and other processed biomass to serve power generation and industrial customers seeking to decrease their dependence on fossil fuels and reduce their carbon footprint. Enviva has been supplying wood chips and wood pellets to customers in the United States and Europe since 2007. For more information about Enviva, including job opportunities, go to www.envivabiomass.com.

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