130-Year Old Shuttered West Linn Paper Mill Likely to Reopen

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Clark County investor Ken Peterson seeks to reopen the 130-year old mill, which was closed down a couple of years back, citing lack of adequate pulp supply to run the mill.

The utility Portland General Electric (PGE), which currently owns the land and buildings on the mill site, noted that the efforts are on to reopen the mill.

According to Dave Robertson, vice president for public policy at PGE, it has entered into a deal which allows leasing out the site to a company closely associated with Peterson’s investment firm- Columbia Ventures Corp., initially for a period of five years, with an option to extend the lease for additional ten years. Incidentally, the company is reportedly working with former West Linn chief operating officer Brian Konen on revival efforts. Robertson noted that it will continue with its long-term redevelopment plans for the property in association with West Linn authorities.

ALSO READ: Georgia Pacific's New Albany Lumber Mill on Track for End-2019 Completion

Meantime, Clackamas County and Oregon Economic Development Agency officials declined to respond to queries on allocation of public incentives for the mill restart project.

The West Linn Paper Company had closed its doors in October 2017, leading to job losses of around 250. In a note to employees, the company management had stated that the inability to secure necessary pulp to continue operations, has led to abrupt shutdown of the facility, which began operations in 1889. Along with that, it had also shut down a warehouse, logistics and transportation site in Vancouver.