New Renewable Energy Source to be Considered for City's Energy Portfolio
October 9
City Commission to Review Plans for Advanced Biomass Facility in Tallahassee - The Tallahassee City Commission is considering an opportunity to add a new renewable energy source to the City's energy portfolio as part of its Integrated Resource Plan.
At its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 11, the Commission will discuss approval of a contract to purchase renewable energy from Biomass Gas & Electric Company (BG&E). The proposed agreement calls for BG&E to provide the City's publicly owned utility system with electric power and gas produced from biomass.
BG&E's plant, which is expected to be in operation in Tallahassee by 2010, uses an environmentally friendly process involving new advanced technology to convert wood waste to a gas that is similar to natural gas. The gasification process is conducted by superheating the wood waste in an oxygen-free environment. This eliminates many of the harmful byproducts that occur when biomass is burned using oxygen. No smoke is produced, only steam from the water used in the process.
"The BG&E proposal supports one of the important goals of our Integrated Resource Planning process to find diverse energy sources for our community's growing power needs," said Mayor John R. Marks. "We've been in negotiations with BG&E for some time now and believe this agreement will help Tallahassee become a national leader in renewable energy sourcing. Renewables are an important part of the City's plan for meeting our citizens' energy needs."
The agreement being reviewed by the City Commission calls for up to 35 megawatts of electricity - enough to power about 10,000 homes. In addition, the agreement calls for BG&E to provide 60 dekatherms of synthetic gas to the City's Gas Utility. In total, BG&E's plant could provide about eight percent of the City's energy needs.
"I have great respect and admiration for the City of Tallahassee for taking this step into the future for their community," S. Glenn Farris, president and CEO of BG&E, said. "We look forward to working with the City and other partners throughout the community to make Tallahassee a progressive participant in renewable energy options."
As part of its commitment to environmentally sound energy, BG&E also will commit to providing funds for a national hydrogen research facility at Florida State University.
BG&E, an Atlanta-based company founded in 2001, is owned and managed by a team of biomass energy experts. Key team members were part of setting up and running the largest biomass gasification energy production plant in the country.
If approved, the biomass energy purchase will complement the City of Tallahassee's current renewable energy facility, the C. H. Corn Hydroelectric power generating plant, one of only two hydroelectric plants in the state of Florida.
For more information on the City's Integrated Resource Planning Project, visit Talgov.com. For more information on BG&E, visit biggreenenergy.com.
Contact
Stefanie Long, Communications, 891-8533, and Harry Nolan for BG&E, (404) 202-5109
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