American Renewables gets permission for 100 MW biomass plant in Florida

(ADPnews) - Dec 10, 2010 - US biomass power developer American Renewables said on Tuesday it received regulatory permission for a proposed 100 MW biomass power project in Florida.

The Florida Power Plant Sitting Board approved the site application for The Gainesville Renewable Energy Center.

On the same day, the Florida administrative judge Robert Meale ruled in favour of the project, rejecting claims against the plant's air construction permit. The permit is expected to be finalised by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in a few weeks.

A month ago Meale ruled for a site certification to be granted to the project.

American Renewables said it will sell the plant's electricity to local utility Gainesville Regional Utilities under a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

The project will result in USD 200 million (EUR 150.9m) of reduced electricity rates for Gainesville for the 30-year period and in some 700 new workplaces if it remains on schedule and eligible for federal subsidies, according to project manager Josh Levine.

"We look forward to quickly beginning construction," Levine added.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.754)

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