US Palmer Renewable Energy makes changes to biomass plant project

(ADPnews) - Oct 25, 2010 - US Palmer Renewable Energy has recently informed the Massachusetts authorities that its proposed biomass power plant in Springfield will burn green wood chips instead of demolition debris as initially planned.

Palmer Renewable's first plans have been countered by Stop Toxic Incineration, a grassroots group, which has required a full environmental impact report, The Republican reported on Saturday. About the change in the project, the group said that they aimed "to bypass the controversy and additional regulatory review surrounding burning demolition debris".

The company plans to use 1,184 tonnes of green wood chips delivered by Northern Tree Service Inc, compared to initially planned 700 tonnes of recycled wood and 200 tonnes of green wood chips a day, it said in a change-of-project notice about its USD-150-million (EUR 106.8m) development. The plant's electricity generation capacity would fall to 35 MW from 38 MW.

According to the company's filing with the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the new plans "will include measures to reduce air quality impacts, noise, water use, wastewater impacts, stormwater runoff, traffic and visual impacts". These measures would include emission controls and a voluntary greenhouse gas analysis.

The public comment period on the changed plans was slated for closure on October 26, but the company has agreed to extend it by two weeks until November 9. Ten days later the secretary of energy would have to issue a ruling.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.712)

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