Governor and others ‘okay’ biomass plant

Florida Governor Charlie Crist and elected cabinet members, all sitting as the Florida Power Plant Siting Board, gave approval to a controversial biomass electric generating facility slated for the Deerhaven area.

Approval of the plant Tuesday moved it one step closer to being Florida’s first electric generating facility expected to use wood as its main fuel supply.

Governor Charlie Crist said, “I think this can be a great breakthrough and I think it is the right thing to do. The groups that have supported this, I have great trust and confidence in them.”

But not everyone has been in support of the biomass plant which would be built at the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Deerhaven plant on U.S. Highway 441 near Alachua.  Plans for the wood-burning plant have sparked concerns among many who cite environmental sustainability and nearby residents who more often raise concerns over projected traffic increases.

In arguing against approval of the project, critics have pointed out that burning of tree trimmings and wood from area forests and lands may not only be inefficient way of collecting fuel, but also increase greenhouse gases and the cost of energy production.

Aside from environmental concerns, the one aspect proponents of the plant have been unable to overcome is its impacts on traffic.  Gainesville Renewable Energy Center (GREC) would be fueled by wood debris, tree trimmings and clippings from a 75-mile-radius of the proposed plant.  Unlike coal which is currently used at the GRU power generating plant, the wood fuel for GREC would not be taken to the site via rail.

The nearly $500 million biomass plant would be built and operated under a 30-year-contract by American Renewables, a company based in Boston, Mass.

In April, City of Alachua commissioners turned away GREC Project Manager Josh Levine who had hoped to get a letter of support for the plant from the City.

Commissioners were as wary as the nearby residents as to the impacts of the 130 to 150 trucks each day project officials estimate will be heading up and down U.S. 441 en route to the plant or back out to Interstate 75 through Alachua. That breaks down to about one truck trip every five minutes.

The 100-megawatt biomass project would supply up to 15 percent of the power needed by GRU’s customers over the next several years.

In June, Florida’s Public Service Commission approved the project in a 3-2 vote.  But opponents have been waging battles in the courtroom to challenge that hearing.

In addition to the Power Plant Siting Board’s approval on Tuesday, a Florida administrative law judge issued his second ruling in favor of the proposed biomass plant.  Judge Robert E. Meale rejected claims made by petitioners who opposed the plant’s air construction permit.

He found instead that the facility will not cause adverse air emissions impacts or adverse impacts to wildlife species or their habitat. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is expected to finalize the air construction permit within weeks.

Judge Meale also issued an order on Nov. 1 recommending site certification be granted for the biomass plant saying, “Instead of undermining sound silvicultural practices, the new market for biomass materials will enhance the viability of forestry resources and thus serve regional environmental needs.”