By Andrew de Souza

Interest in green industrial park grows

Apr 30, 2011 | 7:39 AM

With the finalization of the Prince Albert Pulp Mill sale, prospects for the city’s green industrial park are growing.

Currently, contractors are working on the site’s infrastructure and according to Rob Woodward, who is in charge of marketing the site, several businesses are seriously considering using the site.

“They’re looking at figuring out how and how well would the green energy site (help) with their long-term business,” said Woodward.

“It’s more than just tire kicking, it’s at the evaluation and analysis by a fair number of firms right now.”

Woodward said two things make the site particularly attractive.

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The first is the announcement that the sale of the pulp mill from Domtar to Paper Excellence has finalized on Wednesday. Woodward said that should cause many businesses to want to move there since the park is located near the mill.

The second is that the city is offering a reduction in land levies to projects that include sustainable design and operations as well as create local jobs.

“There’s a fairly good boom going on in P.A. right now and to find land that is attractive and well located is a bit of a challenge,” Woodward said.

“By putting into a business plan a green production base or a green process that would see you get into the green park at a very reasonable cost, well lots of these businesses are interested in hearing about that.”

Woodward said the infrastructure should be in place by the end of the fall and, in the best-case scenario, businesses could be ready to begin construction next year.

The green industrial park is about 22 acres just north of the Prince Albert airport.

adesouza@panow.com