WILL OUR KATAHDIN CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE ONE NORTH SITE?
Yes. Our Katahdin (OK), a 501-c3 nonprofit organization, owns the One North property and will continue managing and maintaining the site. OK employee, Steve Sanders, is the acting Industrial Development Director of the site, and other Our Katahdin staff and volunteers provide maintenance and administrative support for One North. Our Katahdin board members continue to volunteer to recruit new tenants, manage infrastructure improvements on the property, and develop partnerships and collaborations to advance its vision for the site.
WHAT IS THE VISION FOR ONE NORTH?
The vision for One North is to be a center for the development and manufacturing of sustainable products to meet the world’s growing demand, with a mission to expand the potential of Maine’s bioeconomy by:
WHAT IS OUR KATAHDIN DOING TO BRING JOBS TO THE REGION?
Our Katahdin believes the former Great Northern Paper mill site, now called One North, can be redeveloped to become a world-class bio-industrial park. By focusing on the growing global bio-economy, we aim to become a center that connects new technologies to abundant renewable natural resources, including forests, hydropower, and aquaculture. One North will be home to several small-to-medium enterprises over time, each employing approximately 10-100 skilled workers, as well as a cohort of budding entrepreneurs working to commercialize new technologies. Our Katahdin will prioritize strengthening links with universities and colleges to bring cutting-edge R&D back to the site and help promote commercialization of higher value uses of products from forests and agriculture and/or aquaculture.
Our Katahdin has and will engage in long-term leases with companies located on the site, acting in a stewardship role of the bio-industrial park. As a nonprofit organization, Our Katahdin will reinvest profits back into the further development of One North and in community development in the Katahdin region.
WHAT TYPE OF INDUSTRY IS BEING RECRUITED AT ONE NORTH?
One North is first and foremost an industrial site with large-scale assets to accommodate high-production operations in multiple sectors. Because of its premium location adjacent to 5.6 million acres of forest land, Our Katahdin and its tenant development partners are actively recruiting existing businesses and startups in the forest products industry, cross-laminated timber, pellet and sawmills, and renewable energy. Other priority areas include data and technology, aquaculture, and light manufacturing.
WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS BEGIN ON THE SITE?
Brownfield cleanup of the site continues. Hazardous materials such as lead paint and asbestos were abated from the Administration Building and Pilot Plant in the Fall of 2022. Abatement work is now underway within the Engineering & Research Building. The Pilot Plant and Engineering & Research Building roof is being replaced over the summer / fall of 2023.
The former Great Northern Paper Company wastewater treatment plant clarifier and sludge handling buildings were demolished in the Spring of 2023. This work opens up additional footprint for redevelopment on the east side of Millinocket Stream.
The 2018 EDA Infrastructure Project was advertised for bid in the Spring of 2022 but was not awarded due to pricing being over the original 2018 budget. The project has been rescoped and was recently approved for award by the EDA in July 2023. Construction is anticipated to be completed by Fall 2024.
WHAT WILL THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BE IF ONE NORTH IS SUCCESSFUL IN RECRUITING AQUACULTURE BUSINESS?
Like all other projects on the site, any aquaculture projects are required to go through the permitting process with Maine DEP and any other applicable agencies and abide by all necessary regulations. Odors, discharge, etc. would all be considered as part of the permitting process. At present, One North does not have any active aquaculture projects.
HOW CAN LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM OPPORTUNITIES ON ONE NORTH?
Employing local people is a priority. Our team is working on adding a portal within the One North website, onenorth.net, where folks can find jobs and contracting opportunities available on the industrial site.
WHO IS OUR KATAHDIN WORKING WITH TO DEVELOP ONE NORTH?
A list of our working collaborators is located on our website: https://www.onenorth.net/about/collaborators/ For more information about our team, please visit https://www.onenorth.net/locate-here/team/
WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR IDEAS?
Please contact Cheley, michele@ourkatahdin.com.
HOW DOES THE OUR KATAHDIN BOARD BENEFIT FROM ACTIVITIES ON THE ONE NORTH SITE?
Our Katahdin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Each of the Board Members of Our Katahdin is a volunteer that receives no salary. Ownership of the One North property does not entitle any Our Katahdin Board members to any financial gain, nor does this relationship give ownership of any parcel of land to any individual associated with Our Katahdin. The acquired companies are held by Our Katahdin, the nonprofit organization, which has no owners, only Board Members who are helping to support the community and economic development of the Katahdin region.
BACKGROUND: In June 2021, Nautilus Data Technologies (Nautilus) announced plans to locate a data center at the former Great Northern Paper mill site, now called One North, in Millinocket.
WHAT IS A DATA CENTER?
A data center is a facility that houses core computing services, including data storage and applications. Nautilus data centers reduce the cost of computing, cut power usage, eliminate water consumption, decrease air pollution, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
WHEN WILL THE DATA CENTER BE OPERATING?
Engineering, permitting, planning, and development are ongoing. The data center is expected to be operating in 2023.
HOW MANY JOBS WILL THIS DATA CENTER CREATE?
During the construction phase, there will be 50 at peak and then more than 100 total over the lifecycle of the project. Day-to-day operations will create ten direct jobs in the data center for the first phase; with a full campus build, the number of employees will grow to 30. On an average week, Nautilus expects another half a dozen outside folks to be working on their campus as well.
WHAT ADDITIONAL BENEFITS COME FROM HAVING A DATA CENTER ON THE ONE NORTH SITE?
Data centers attract digital-dependent businesses. https://www.uschamber.com/press-release/us-chamber-report-data-centers-average-325-million-economic-impact According to a new report released today by the U.S. Chamber Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC), the average data center adds $32.5 million in economic activity to its local community each year. The report, Data Centers – Jobs and Opportunities in Communities Nationwide, also reveals that during construction, a typical data center generates an additional $9.9 million in revenue for state and local governments.
WILL THIS BE THE ONLY BUSINESS ON ONE NORTH?
The Nautilus data center will occupy 13-acres on the 1,400-acre industrial site. They are the anchor tenant on the Millinocket site. In addition to Nautilus, tenants on the site are expected to include commercial and industrial manufacturers, startups, and other mixed-use facilities requiring ample land and access to affordable power and water. In particular, Our Katahdin is prioritizing recruitment of businesses in the forest products and digital economies, in addition to aquaculture.
DOES NAUTILUS HAVE OTHER DATA CENTERS?
Nautilus owns and operates a data center in Stockton, California.
WILL THE DATA CENTER CREATE LOCAL AIR, WATER, OR NOISE POLLUTION?
No. The Nautilus data center is expected to be one of the greenest, most efficient data centers in the world. The planned facility will produce no wastewater, will create zero pollution from ozone-depleting refrigerants or chemicals, and noise levels are strictly regulated. Data center operations pose no threat to terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. The facility will utilize locally generated, 100% renewable hydroelectric power.
IS THIS A SPECULATIVE ANNOUNCEMENT?
No. Nautilus and Our Katahdin have executed a 99-year lease agreement. Permitting, engineering and planning have already begun. Our Katahdin has invested over $150,000 in assessment funds on the Nautilus-leaded parcel. Environmental assessment results show a clean parcel, fully suitable for commercial and industrial use.
To learn more, please visit www.onenorth.net.