Western county biomass power plant to nearly double output
By Susan Salisbury, The Palm Beach Post, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - May 25
A western Palm Beach County power plant that burns sugar cane residue and discarded wood will nearly double its capacity beginning next month.
New Hope, a subsidiary of West Palm Beach-based Florida Crystals, uses
800,000 tons of sugar cane waste, known as bagasse, each year, along with
650,000 tons of wood.
Spokesman Gaston Cantens said the amount of bagasse will remain the same, but
the plant will use an additional 230,000 tons of wood in the initial stages.
The wood is supplied by recycling companies that obtain it from sources such
as construction companies.
Cantens said there are no plans to expand the plant beyond this addition.
"We want to get this project under way and complete it," he said.
"We are not foreclosing the possibility of any future energy
facilities."
Gus Cepero, a Florida Crystals vice president, said the expanded plant will
help provide electricity to 53,000 residential customers in South Florida.
"In addition, agricultural waste that would otherwise consume valuable
landfill space will be disposed of responsibly," Cepero said in a
statement.
Construction will begin next month.
Officials did not have a dollar figure for the expansion except to say the
cost would run into the millions.
The expansion was approved last week by Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet.
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