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9/22/2008
Oglethorpe Power to Build Biomass Electric Generating Facilities |
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Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the nation's largest power supply cooperative, has announced plans to build as many as three 100 megawatt (MW) biomass electric generating facilities in Georgia. Designed as carbon-neutral and to utilize woody biomass, one of the state's most abundant renewable resources, the power plants will provide power to OPC's 38 member cooperatives, which supply electricity to nearly half of Georgia's population.
"With our abundant biomass resources, Georgia has the unique opportunity to expand our use of alternative energy, grow our economy and transform the way we provide energy to our citizens," said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. "Oglethorpe Power's pioneering investment in alternative energy is consistent with our goal to grow, convert, and use biomass energy to power our homes and businesses."
OPC has secured options for five potential sites in Appling, Echols, Warren and Washington counties. The first two biomass power plants are scheduled to be built and placed into operation in 2014 and 2015; however, which of the five sites will host the first plants is still to be determined. A third unit could also be completed and placed into service in 2015.
Tom Smith, president and chief executive officer of Oglethorpe Power Corporation, said, "We're pleased to find an environmentally friendly way to help meet some of our members' growing demand for electricity. OPC's members continue to grow and have an increasing need for additional power."
The power plants will be steam-electric generation stations using conventional fluidized bed boiler/steam turbine technology. Fuel for the plants will consist of a woody biomass mixture, including processed roundwood (e.g. chipped pulpwood), primary manufacturing residue (e.g. wood waste from sawmills), and harvest residue (e.g. wood remaining in forests after clearing). The plants will be designed to allow for the co-firing of other types of biomass, such as pecan hulls and peanut shells. There are no plans to use any fossil fuels.
Employing environmentally responsible technologies, the biomass plants will meet all state and federal environmental requirements. The exact control technologies utilized will be determined as part of the permitting process. It is likely, however, that the plants will include filter baghouses for reduction of particulate emissions and selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) for control of NOx.
Depending on the location, water would be obtained either from onsite wells, nearby surface waters, from municipal sources or grey water from nearby industries. Each plant would be developed on a minimum of 150 acres of land to ensure an adequate buffer between the plant and its surroundings.
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