Massena pellet plant to get $250,000 grant

MASSENA — The Empire State Development Corp. Board of Directors approved a grant Thursday of up to $250,000 for Curran Renewable Energy, a wood pellet manufacturing facility that opened this year in the Massena Industrial Park.

The funding will help pay for a portion of the cost of machinery and equipment needed at the wood pellet plant, but is dependent on job creation and retention requirements. The state agency estimates the total cost of the project to be $10.95 million.

According to Empire State Development, the Curran Renewable facility must create 50 jobs and retain another 50 jobs at the Curran family's other businesses, Seaway Timber Harvesting and Curran Logging, in order to receive the full amount of the grant. Currently, the pellet plant employs just more than 20 people, while job retention at the other businesses meets Empire State Development's stipulations.

Company owner Patrick J. Curran declined to comment on the award until he is able to discuss the matter with Empire State Development, noting there were details that need to be worked out between the company and the state that will determine how much of the $250,000 the company will receive.

The Massena Electric Department also reported this week that Curran Renewable has reached their employment threshold to secure a low-cost power allocation from the New York Power Authority for the utility.

Starting in January, MED will receive just under 1 megawatt of additional low-cost hydropower to reduce the cost of energy at the pellet plant. The allocation will be in addition to MED's 23 megawatt preference power allocation from NYPA for the entire district.