Senators praise Weyerhaeuser Cosmopolis mill decision

OLYMPIA — In a huge victory for the citizens of Grays Harbor County and the entire Washington coastal region, Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, and Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, expressed their unanimous support for the purchase of the Cosmopolis Pulp Mill by Evergreen Pulp of California and the Grays Harbor PUD. The announcement by Weyerhaeuser comes after more than a year of meetings and negotiations involving state lawmakers, community leaders and other potential buyers.

“We’re real excited with Evergreen because they have a great track record in California for working with the community, for working with labor, and working with suppliers. I think the most exciting thing they are a company that has a market,” Hargrove said. “They have the Chinese market to sell this product, and they are not that concerned about short term ups-and-downs in the price of this particular product because they have a very long range view of how this product is going to fit into their Chinese market so it’s just an incredible win for Grays Harbor and we’re looking forward to having them as one of our employers for a long time.”

“We’re just so excited and so happy that Weyerhaeuser has chosen Evergreen,” Hatfield said. “These folks were the only bidder that went out and contacted the City of Cosmopolis, and contacted folks in terms of chip supply. They are working with the PUD on co generation. They really are interested in putting out a product, and more importantly putting people to work in Grays Harbor County. This is the best news we’ve had in a long time and it’s just great to hear.”

“I think the possibilities are limitless with foreign trade and partnering with local PUD we see some energy processing as well some local production of energy on a very good scale,” Sheldon said. “It’s going to be a good partnership and we’re just so happy that a deal has been put together.”

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