http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/8406/biomass-power-plant-to-open-at-ga-paper-mill
Georgia
Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that Dublin-based Green Power Solutions
will open a power plant in Laurens County, creating 35 permanent jobs
with an initial capital investment of $95 million. This new
biomass-fueled plant is the culmination of more than 18 months of
collaboration between Beasley Forestry Products and Land Care Services,
and it will support up to 200 additional jobs in the forest industry.
Having already received approval from the Georgia Public Service
Commission, the GPS plant is slated to be the largest renewable energy
qualifying facility developed to date in Georgia.
“Georgia is
increasingly becoming a go-to location for biomass-based energy
ventures, so we are encouraged by Green Power Solutions’ decision to
choose Dublin and Laurens County for this innovative renewable energy
plant,” said Deal. “Companies such as Green Power Solutions do well in
Georgia due in large part to our plentiful forestry resources and
existing workforce trained for this industry.”
The GPS power
plant will be located at an existing paper mill in Laurens County that
was recently purchased by SP Fiber Technologies LLC. The planned capital
expenditures will allow GPS not only to provide the steam required for
the paper mill’s daily operations but also to generate 56 megawatts of
electricity that will be provided to the electrical grid. GPS will
provide base load power, which will be sold to Georgia Power Co. under a
20-year power purchase agreement.
“This is a great project
that will help the local economy and advance the goal of energy
independence by utilizing locally produced renewable resources,” said
Tim Kennedy of Green Power Solutions. “We look forward to working with
the community as the facility takes shape and begins operations.”
GPS will also construct a new wood yard in connection with the project
and expects to utilize in excess of 1 million tons of round wood, bark
and other woody biomass annually from the local area.
“We are excited about the new partnership with SP Fiber Technology
and GPS. SP Fiber’s commitment to sustainability growth in our community
is without comparison,” said Jimmy Allgood, past chairman of the
Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority. “The team at GPS makes this
project viable for long-term growth in Laurens County. The
Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority completely endorses this new
technology for our community, state and nation.”
The Georgia
Department of Economic Development collaborated with the Dublin-Laurens
County Development Authority to manage this project. GDEcD Regional
Project Manager Ryan Waldrep assisted Green Power Solutions on behalf of
Georgia.
“Our state’s profile in the renewable energy sector
is raised significantly when companies such as Green Power Solutions
choose to do business in Georgia,” said GDEcD Commissioner Chris
Cummiskey. “Our goal is to be recognized not only as the best place for
business, but also as a strategic location for companies in the
fast-growing biomass energy industry.”
Construction at the
Green Power Solutions plant is scheduled to begin in May 2013, with
commercial power plant operations beginning in 2015.
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