FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS
John Murphy, CEO, Castlerock Biofuels
(646) 812-6744
📧john@castlerockgreenenergy.com
Steve Sanders, Director of Mill Site Redevelopment, One North
(207) 447-1788
📧 steve@onenorth.net
🌐www.onenorth.net
Castlerock Biofuels selects Millinocket, ME for renewable fuel oil facility
Millinocket, ME – [01/30/2025] – Castlerock Biofuels LLC, operating locally through its subsidiary EME Biofuels, LLC, has announced the selection of Millinocket, Maine as the site for its new sustainable biocrude production facility, leveraging the advanced thermal processing (RTP®) technology developed by Ensyn Corporation and its affiliated companies. The plant, to be built on a greenfield site within One North, the former Great Northern paper mill location, will utilize renewable logging residue from local Maine forestry operations to produce up to 20 million gallons of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil annually. The product, branded RFO® for renewable heating purposes, will be available to large institutional heating customers in the US Northeast. All necessary project permits are in process, with the remaining financing expected to close in 2025. The facility is expected to be operational by 2027.
“We are thrilled to bring this project to Millinocket, a community with deep roots in the forestry industry and a strong vision for economic renewal.”said John Murphy, CEO of Castlerock Biofuels. “This facility will not only create high-quality jobs but also support sustainable forest management and position Maine as a leader in renewable fuel production. We look forward to working closely with the Town of Millinocket, Our Katahdin, and local stakeholders to make this vision a reality. At Castlerock Biofuels, we are committed to sustainability, supporting America’s forestry industry, and contributing to domestic energy security.”
Strategic Location & Infrastructure Support
Castlerock Biofuels chose Millinocket based on its access to renewable hydroelectric power from Brookfield, strong local site management by Our Katahdin, and the Town of Millinocket’s commitment to partner in building the roads, water, sewer and power infrastructure necessary to support the facility and future development. The site also benefits from close proximity to feedstock providers and the option for rail access to facilitate efficient distribution of the finished product.
Economic Impact & Job Creation
The project is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the region, including:
Up to 150 construction jobs at peak development.
Approximately 80 full-time jobs, skill training and internships with local partners and stakeholders.
92 jobs in the forest industry supply chain, supporting the harvest and transport of feedstock and the transport of finished fuel.
Increased tax revenues and indirect economic growth, as supporting industries develop around the facility.
Sean Dewitt, President of Our Katahdin, the Millinocket-based non-profit organization that owns and operates the One North industrial site, said, “Castlerock’s commitment to the Katahdin region represents a transformative opportunity. They bring premier engineering, top-tier financial backing and a proven product with strong market demand. The Millinocket facility will be a larger version of the successful RTP processing plant in Quebec, where fuel oil production has been effectively established at scale since 2018.”
“By locating on our former paper mill site, Castlerock is generating tax revenue and creating jobs onsite and in the woods while honoring our rich forest products legacy and pioneering the next generation of sustainable forest products. It's a perfect blend of our proud history and our hopeful future," added DeWitt.
Environmental & Energy Independence Benefits
The Millinocket plant will produce 20 million gallons of RFO per year, providing a sustainable heating oil replacement for institutions, such as universities, hospitals, and district heating companies. With a lifecycle carbon intensity score of less than 5 grams of CO2 equivalent per MJ, and a greenhouse gas emissions rate up to 96% lower than petroleum-based heating oil or natural gas, the facility will:
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support corporate sustainability and conservation goals.
Utilize a renewable byproduct that would otherwise decompose in the forest, maximize the value of harvested trees, reduce forest fire risk and, in collaboration with landowners, contribute to sustainable harvest plans and net forest growth.
Contribute to American energy independence by replacing imported fossil fuels with domestic renewable energy sources.
Robert Pirraglia, CEO of Ensyn Corporation, said, “Ensyn Corporation is proud to work with Castlerock Biofuels on this transformative project in Millinocket. Our RTP technology has been at the forefront of renewable fuel innovation for over 30 years. This new plant not only strengthens the renewable energy landscape but also highlights the immense potential of sustainable forestry as a cornerstone of our low-carbon future. Together, we are advancing solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create economic opportunities, and support energy independence.”
Project Timeline & Next Steps
Permitting: In progress, with approvals expected soon.
Financing: Debt and equity funding to close in 2025.
On Site Construction Start: Approximately 6 months after funding closes.
Full Operations: Expected in 2027.
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Castlerock Biofuels, LLC is committed to becoming a national leader in renewable fuel production, with plans to develop a network of RTP facilities across the United States. The company is exploring opportunities in Minnesota, Washington, Georgia, and Mississippi, with a continued focus on an expanding footprint to meet growing demand for sustainable fuels. By leveraging non-food source, cellulosic biomass, Castlerock Biofuels will set the standard for low-carbon renewable fuels that support American energy independence and foster economic and environmental progress.
Castlerock Biofuels, a joint venture between Castlerock Green Energy LLC, Ensyn Corporation and Khasma Capital LLC, has certain exclusive rights to develop production facilities in the US, applying Ensyn’s RTP technology. For more information, please visit: https://www.castlerockbiofuels.com
Ensyn Corporation is the global leader in fast thermal conversion of cellulosic biomass to liquid fuels and chemicals. Ensyn’s core RTP® technology has 30+ years of commercial operating history, focused on food ingredients, natural chemicals and heating fuels. Together with its key development partners, Ensyn is now building out production capacity for a broader commercialization of heating fuels and for other energy products.
One North, managed by Our Katahdin, is a 1,400-acre, mixed-use industrial site in Millinocket, Maine, formerly known as the Great Northern Paper mill site. The vision for the site is to be a center for the development and manufacturing of sustainable products to meet the world’s growing demand. One North is interested in attracting tenants in the following industries: sustainable forest products, including saw and pellet mills and mass timber; bio-based manufacturing; renewable energy, including biofuels, solar and hydro; aquaculture; and data storage. For more information, please visit www.onenorth.net.
Our Katahdin is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in December 2014 to support community and economic development in the Katahdin region of Maine. Our Katahdin focuses on four key priorities to help move the Katahdin region forward: (a) partnering with citizen leaders to implement “small win” community projects, (b) revitalization of the downtown corridor of the Katahdin region, (c) improving broadband access and infrastructure and (d) industrial site redevelopment. For more information, please visit www.ourkatahdin.com.