Bucksport awarded grant to develop clean energy at former mill site | Local News [Video]

BUCKSPORT — Bucksport is moving forward with plans to develop clean energy at the site of the town’s former paper mill.

Bucksport is one of six Maine communities recently awarded a state technical assistance grant from the state’s Maine Community Energy Redevelopment Program to support the re-development of industrial sites, and help Maine to reach climate and clean energy goals.

Thanks to the grant, the town is partnering with JERA Americas to determine the feasibility of clean energy projects at the former Verso paper mill.

“The site can attain more of what it was envisioned to be in the first place. It’s been hard for people to see an empty site,” said Bucksport Town Manager Susan Lessard.

JERA Americas said in a statement they’re looking at a number of clean energy options for the site.

However, it’s not yet clear what renewable energy sources are being considered or what it would mean for jobs in the area.

“There’s a pretty wide …