After years of research, planning, and grant applications, Hancock Lumber’s Pittsfield mill has begun making power following the installation of a new steam turbine! A process years in the making, the goal remained to generate our own power and become more sustainable. Thanks to the dedication of Team Hancock and a series of strategic investments, that goal is now complete!
The Timeline:
- October 2021: It all began with an Efficiency Maine grant application—a first step toward turning plans into reality.
- October 2023: The turbine arrived on site, marking a major milestone.
- November–December 2023: Boiler 1 received critical upgrades: a new pressure vessel, feedwater pumps, computer controls, and higher-pressure safety valves.
- June 2024: New condensate pumps were installed, improving system reliability.
- July 2024: Boiler 2 got a cutting-edge wave radar water monitoring system.
- August 2024: A new feedwater pump for Boiler 2 further enhanced performance.
- September 2024: Commissioning the turbine—a moment that signaled the start of making power from otherwise unused steam.
Every improvement along the way reinforces Team Hancock’s commitment to operating our mills as efficiently, cleanly, and sustainably as possible. Tony Curtis, Stationary Steam Engineer at the Pittsfield Mill, had this to say about what the new piece of machinery means to the team there:
“The turbine project has raised team morale here at the Pittsfield Mill. It lets our team members see that the company is investing back into the mill and into the future.” —Tony Curtis
This steam turbine is one of three now in operation at Hancock Lumber’s Eastern White Pine sawmills that convert excess steam generated from drying green lumber in the kilns into power. With all three mills combined, over 4 million kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable energy is produced annually.