Sustainable wood pellets producer Enviva will invest approximately $250 million for the construction of a new wood pellet production plant in Bond, Mississippi in order to meet the rising demand for renewable resources.
The facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of more than 1 million metric tons of wood pellets. It will double Enviva’s production capacity to approximately 13 million metric tons annually over the next five years.
The new plant is contracted under long-term take-or-pay supply contracts with clients worldwide. It will create around 100 local jobs with approximately 70% higher wages than the county average. Overall, the facility will support over 350 jobs, including those related to transportation and logging.
The new plant adds to Enviva’s two existing facilities in Mississippi. These are the facility in Amory and another in Lucedale. Construction of the plant is expected to begin in early 2023 and take approximately 18 months.
Enviva’s Chairman and CEO John Keppler explained, “Markets for our renewable products have been growing rapidly as countries look for new ways to reduce their dependence on coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels for heat and power generation. Demand from manufacturers driving to reach ‘net-zero’ by decarbonizing industrial production of steel, cement, lime, and sustainable aviation fuel is also growing rapidly for us.”
Governor Tate Reeves said the wood pellets produced here will be distributed and used worldwide. The plant will use low-value and low-grade softwood and hardwood fiber to create the pellets. The fiber will be sustainably sourced within 75 miles of the facility.
