Freshwater Tissue Gets Flushed
In another proud economic move for California, Freshwater Tissue, the only chlorine and dioxin free pulp mill in the United States will be forced to close after being unable to get stimulus funds to convert the mill to an integrated toilet tissue plant.
Freshwater tissue had a goal to produce cost-effective, ecologically friendly products to compete against offshore competitors. When the owners bought the plant they also planned to use wasted byproducts of the nearby redwood forest. The tanoak tree, which has long been a fire hazard to the redwood forests, was to be used in the production of this tissue pulp. The plant would have created nearly 3000 jobs, as well as protecting vital natural resources.
This is the problem when stimulus money is controlled only by lobbyists and special interest groups. The money is not getting too small and midsize businesses who could use the money to create new industries in the new green economy.
Maybe Washington will eventually wake up and see that there are other industries that should receive funding. They are doing progressive and positive things in proven technologies that are good for the United States. Many of these companies are in smaller niche markets which do not get the attention that the automakers and airlines get. Until then, good companies will continue to fail, while mediocre ones benefit from their lobbyists and their greed. This is a big loss for Samoa, CA and another loss for the US green manufacturing industry.
