Recently, here at FiberMark’s Brattleboro plant, we were excited to host Vermont Congressman Peter Welch and his team. They had indicated that they were very interested in our ongoing efforts to burn reclaimed waste vegetable oil (WVO) in place of Number 6 fuel oil, so we invited them down from Montpelier to have a look around our facility.

There’s a back story to this: a bill has been hung up in legislation for months now that would assist businesses like ours seeking alternative, “green” fuel sources. Originally labeled the “Alternative Fuel Tax Credit,” it was part of the 2005 Highway Bill. As proposed, it would provide a 50-cent tax credit for every gallon of alternative fuel we use to heat our plant and machinery. FiberMark, in conjunction with some of the businesses that are providing us with WVO, requested a meeting with Congressman Welch and other legislators to see if we could help promote the green movement and speed along the bill’s passage. The tax incentive is attractive to us, of course, but not only because it means fuel cost reductions. As a company, we are completely committed to developing and employing green, energy-saving technologies, and this one fits perfectly with our vision and mission.

Here to greet Congressman Welch were FiberMark’s president, Anthony MacLaurin, and other members of our senior management team. During the tour, we talked to the congressman about our “WVO” campaign, as well as our efforts to move away from using virgin pulp, replacing it with recycled materials. Welch happens to be extremely environmentally friendly, and was very interested in what we’re doing in that regard. Later, in a letter to us, Welch said, “Very impressive operation. Your ideas about the environment, recycling protocol and other energy-efficient innovations . . . could provide wonderful opportunities for the Vermont economy and serve as a model for the emerging green sector in our state.” The outcome is that he has vowed to help get this important bill passed.

Equally important, though, is the fact that our Brattleboro plant has the ability—and the desire—to replace all of our fossil fuel needs by burning WVO. That’s an indication of how serious we are about our green efforts. It’s a stake we’ve planted in the ground. Needless to say, the 50 cent tax credit will help our costs considerably, so we’re rooting for Congressman Welch in his efforts to get the bill passed.