Our Facility


Is biomass electricity important?

Using biomass to produce electricity reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, the nation's primary energy sources for electricity, and the largest contributors to air pollution and greenhouse gases. Biomass electricity offers alternatives with many benefits:

Our supply of biomass is renewable, meaning it will not run out.

Electricity produced by biomass reduces the threat of global climate change.

Using biomass waste eliminates the need to place it in landfills.

Clearing biomass from wooded areas helps prevent forest fires.

Buena Vista Biomass Power
Project Overview

Buena Vista Biomass Power (BVBP) is an 18 megawatt electric generation facility that is currently being re-powered as a long-term sustainable biomass renewable energy power generation facility. Located in Ione, California, the Project is currently under-going engineering design for the substantial capital investment required prior to the safe, reliable and environmentally-responsible commercial operation scheduled for mid-2010.

When in service BVBP will generate enough renewable energy to sustain approximately 16,000 homes and will consume approximately 210,000 tons of woody biomass fuel. The fuel will be derived from a variety of sources including clean urban wood diverted away from landfills, agricultural byproducts from orchard operations and forest sourced material generated as a byproduct of forest thinning projects that reduce hazardous fuels.

 

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Location

The BVBP facility is located at 4655 Coal Mine Road, Buena Vista, CA, approximately 5 miles south of the City of Ione. The Project site is strategically located to access woody biomass fuel from sustainable forestry, agricultural and urban sources within a 50 mile radius of BVBP.

Re-Powering

The BVBP Project is being reconfigured to utilize renewable woody biomass as the only fuel source. Prior to re-starting the Project, BVBP will coordinate with local, county, state and federal agencies in the review and modification of existing operating permits. The re-powering investment will include substantial efficiency upgrades; a completely integrated emissions system embracing best available control technology; a biomass fuel handling system; and an energy-management and operating control system. The permits guide each activity from construction to on-going operation of the Project to ensure that it is operated in a safe, reliable manner and meets or exceeds environment standards as set by the various oversight agencies.

Local Employment

During construction over fifty (50) skilled and unskilled jobs will be created. BVBP has committed to utilizing local labor whenever feasible. When the Project is in commercial service it is anticipated that approximately 90 jobs will be created, including approximately 20 full time jobs at the site to operate and maintain the facility. The balance of the jobs (approximately 70) will be involved in various support areas, including engineering as well as collection, processing and transport of woody biomass fuel to the Project.

  • Forest sourced wood waste generated as a byproduct of timber harvest, forest fuel treatment, and forest restoration activities.
  • Agricultural waste in the form of orchard removals, orchard prunings, shells, and pits.
  • Clean urban wood waste including tree trimmings, green waste, construction waste, pallets, and clean demolition wood.

Benefits to the Greater Amador County Region

The Project will provide the following societal benefits:

  • Improved Air Quality
  • Reduced Landfill Waste
  • Provide a Market for Hazardous Forest Fuels
  • Economic Development
  • Carbon Neutral Footprint
  • Contribution to Tax Base