The Government of Canada's investment of $83,000 in Norampac Trenton, a division of Cascades Canada Inc., will be used to improve the energy efficiency of the mill's paper machine.

The Norampac Trenton pulp and paper mill will receive funding under the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (PPGTP) to improve paper machine energy efficiency by upgrading its capacity to capture and redirect energy for other uses within the mill.

To increase energy recovery, Norampac has made improvements that have increased the efficiency of the mill's heat exchangers. The recovery of this additional energy will reduce the mill's energy requirements and its use of natural gas to heat the paper machine departments by more than 20,000 gigajoules per year.

"This $481,000 project, in which the PPGTP will invest $83,000, will allow Norampac Trenton to improve its environmental performance by reducing the use of fossil fuels," said Marc-André Dépin, president and CEO of Norampac. "The modifications that will be brought to the existing heating system in the mill will reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency."

Cascades Canada is one of 24 pulp and paper companies across Canada that qualified for credits under the $1-billion program, based on their 2009 production levels of black liquor.

"Financial support for this project will reinforce Norampac Trenton's environmental performance and help the mill meet market demand for pulp and paper products that have a low environmental impact," said Rick Norlock, Member of Parliament for Northumberland Quinte West. "This is a good example of how our government's strategic investments in energy-efficient technologies are establishing the groundwork for a renewed, more competitive sector."