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Georgia's Move to Biomass Power Applauded
US - USA Biomass, the nation's leading association of biopower companies, urges our national leaders to take a cue from the recent announcement by Georgia's Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC) that it will undertake the single largest biomass initiative in that state -- and maybe the country -- by building as many as three 100-megawatt (MW) biomass electric generating plants by 2015. "This is exactly the type of project our country should be encouraging in order to meet our growing energy needs," said USA Biomass President Bob Cleaves in a Sept. 23 press release. "Not only is biomass energy effective in reducing global warming emissions, but it also creates economic opportunities for rural America, diverts tons of waste from our landfills, and improves the health of our forests."
The Oglethorpe biomass project will provide power to OPC's 38 member cooperatives that supply electricity to nearly half of Georgia's population. Investment in the plants ranged from $400 million to $500 million per facility and each providing 40 good-paying, full-time jobs. Fuel for the plants range from process roundwood, primary manufacturing residue, and harvest residue.
"Of course, Georgia is not alone in its commitment to biomass power. In fact, among USA Biomass members alone, we have 80 plants operating in 20 different states, and the industry is growing every day," said Cleaves. "In addition to Oglethorpe's outstanding new project, Texas' Austin Energy also just announced plans for a new biomass plant in East Texas that would generate 100 MW -- enough to power 75,000 homes using wood chips, straw, and other materials."
Austin Energy has committed to having 30 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020. A number of U.S. states have actually legislated similar goals.
"We're excited to see this magnitude of investment in the biomass industry from both Georgia and Texas, and will continue our efforts to encourage other states to take better advantage of the many environmental, health and economic benefits of biomass energy," said Cleaves. "Biomass is the only truly 'carbon neutral' energy. While fossil fuels actually release 'new' carbons into our atmosphere, biomass not only releases no new carbons, but also helps divert waste fuels from high polluting burning methods or landfills. In this sense, it could even be considered 'carbon negative.'"
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