By Jamie Gardner
Fram Renewable Fuels President Harold Arnold, at the invitation of Congressman John Barrow, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade on February 14 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. The hearing, A Nation of Builders: Manufacturing in America, allowed members of Congress to examine manufacturing in America and to garner input from business leaders across the country.
Pictured is Fram Renewable Fuels President Harold Arnold testifying before members of Congress.
Local businessman testifies before members of Congress
“I’ve seen the great work the folks at Fram Renewables are doing right here in the 12th District of Georgia,” said Congressman Barrow. “With expansion plans underway, Fram Renewables is creating jobs and pumping life into the economy, both in and around Baxley. I look forward to welcoming them to Washington, and sharing their story with other members of the committee.”
Congressman Barrow, a member of both the full E&C Committee and CMT Subcommittee, visited Fram Renewables during his 2012 Made in Georgia Tour, and requested their participation in this hearing. The company manufactures and exports wholesale wood pellet fuel to utility companies globally.
Arnold offered his appreciation to the committee for the opportunity to speak and shared news about his company’s successes and future plans. Fram currently exports over 300,000 metric tons of wood pellets to Europe and has plans to increase to more than one million tons exported by 2015.
Arnold praised the U.S. Government for supporting businesses that increase American exports and thanked the government officials for assistance through the small business loan guarantee program. He further added to members of Congress that timely attention to American ports, such as Savannah and Brunswick, is vitally important to exporters as they rely on economical shipping rates to markets around the world.
Appling Pellets, Fram’s Baxley operation, opened for business in 2007 and provides approximately 40 jobs. The initial investment in the Appling facility was $25 million. The Baxley facility produces over 230,000 metric tons of wood pallets annually.
In 2012 the company opened a second facility in Lumber City and invested $10 million in this facility. The Lumber City operation employs 14 and creates 120,000 metric tons of wood pellets. Fram also broke ground on a third facility that will be built in Hazlehurst. The first phase of this project will employ approximately 50 people and require a $60 million investment. Eventually, phase two of this particular project will add another 25 jobs and an additional investment of $30 million. Arnold estimates that indirectly some 400 jobs will be retained or created in the various parts of the wood pellet supply chain.
While Arnold offered some words of praise to the U.S government, others that testified offered opposing views. As an example, one business owner of a steel company told members of congress that the U.S. government’s stringent regulations have been devastating to the steel industry across the country.
Congressman Barrow, a member of both the full E&C Committee and CMT Subcommittee, visited Fram Renewables during his 2012 Made in Georgia Tour, and requested their participation in this hearing. The company manufactures and exports wholesale wood pellet fuel to utility companies globally.
Arnold offered his appreciation to the committee for the opportunity to speak and shared news about his company’s successes and future plans. Fram currently exports over 300,000 metric tons of wood pellets to Europe and has plans to increase to more than one million tons exported by 2015.
Arnold praised the U.S. Government for supporting businesses that increase American exports and thanked the government officials for assistance through the small business loan guarantee program. He further added to members of Congress that timely attention to American ports, such as Savannah and Brunswick, is vitally important to exporters as they rely on economical shipping rates to markets around the world.
Appling Pellets, Fram’s Baxley operation, opened for business in 2007 and provides approximately 40 jobs. The initial investment in the Appling facility was $25 million. The Baxley facility produces over 230,000 metric tons of wood pallets annually.
In 2012 the company opened a second facility in Lumber City and invested $10 million in this facility. The Lumber City operation employs 14 and creates 120,000 metric tons of wood pellets. Fram also broke ground on a third facility that will be built in Hazlehurst. The first phase of this project will employ approximately 50 people and require a $60 million investment. Eventually, phase two of this particular project will add another 25 jobs and an additional investment of $30 million. Arnold estimates that indirectly some 400 jobs will be retained or created in the various parts of the wood pellet supply chain.
While Arnold offered some words of praise to the U.S government, others that testified offered opposing views. As an example, one business owner of a steel company told members of congress that the U.S. government’s stringent regulations have been devastating to the steel industry across the country.
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#1
Sparky
on
02/20/13 at 12:43 PM
[Reply]
Why is Congress wasting a company's valuable time and our tax money interviewing a legitimate business man?? Have they never seen one before? If they have nothing better to do, I suggest impeaching Obama. [A true threat to America] Fram Renewable Fuels better be careful dealing with the oppressive government. They live to punish producers.