UNITED STATES OF AMERICA —A 70 MW biomass cogeneration facility, Altamaha Green Energy, has officially broken ground adjacent to a major manufacturing site in Jesup, Georgia. Developed through a partnership involving Rayonier Advanced Materials, renewable energy producer Albioma, and forestry supply firm Beasley Group, the project will supply renewable electricity to Georgia Power under a long-term purchase agreement while delivering process steam directly to nearby pulp manufacturing operations. Operational launch is targeted for 2029.
By leveraging existing land assets and historical investments, Rayonier Advanced Materials retains an initial 14% equity stake in the venture, with options to expand its position up to 16%. The project structure minimizes direct capital outlay for the company while generating an estimated $8 million to $10 million in prospective annual cash distributions once commercial operations begin. Furthermore, the modern utility installation allows the core manufacturing plant to bypass approximately $30 million in forecasted maintenance and replacement expenditures for aging legacy infrastructure.
The initiative highlights growing integration between industrial forestry manufacturing and regional clean energy grids. Utilizing sustainably sourced forest residues provided by Beasley Group, the facility addresses dual goals of grid decarbonization and sustainable waste utilization within the Southeastern United States forestry supply chain. For regional utility providers, long-term power purchase agreements tied to biomass offer stable, baseload renewable electricity generation that complements intermittent solar and wind resources.
For industrial producers and infrastructure investors, the joint-venture model demonstrates a capital-efficient approach to upgrading essential site utilities without compromising primary operational capital. By transitioning utility obligations to specialized energy partners, manufacturing entities can secure long-term operational reliability, lower capital intensity, and advance corporate sustainability targets.
Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. is a global producer of high-purity cellulose specialities used in pharmaceuticals, industrial products, and consumer goods, operating production facilities across North America and Europe.
