By Jamie Cohen
June 27, 2011
In February of 2010, Gainesville Renewable Energy Center, LLC was issued final permit approval from the FDEP to go ahead with plans for a 100 megawatt biomass power plant. The facility will be owned and operated by Amercian Renewables, with Gainesville Regional Utility (GRU) purchasing 100% of the energy produced, contracted between the two for thirty years.
Located in GRU's Deerhaven Generating System Property, it is expected to meet some of Gainesville's energy needs for the next three decades. American Renewables is responsible for building the plant, with the project expecting to take three years to completion. Clean woody biomass will fuel the plant which is stated to be cost effective, reliable energy that is also carbon neutral. The woody biomass will come from urban wood waste and left over wood generated from paper pulp and chip and saw timber. With proposed legislation concerning clean air and energy restrictions, this plant is another way for energy needs to be met in a carbon neutral manner, promoting responsible forestry and giving cleaner air to the north central area.
On the job front, expectations are to add 700 permanent jobs to north central Florida. And concerning price increases to the customer, bills should not show a small increase until late 2013, for fuel adjustment fees. For more information on this plant and on woody biomass, go to:https://www.gru.com/AboutGRU/NewsReleases/Archives/Articles/news-2010-05-27.jsp
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