Thurmont considers eco-friendly power plant
Jan 10 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Cailin McGough The Frederick
News-Post, Md.
Thurmont could be home to one of the nation's largest biomass-to-energy
power plants as early as 2011.
In a presentation before the town's Board of Commissioners on Tuesday,
energy consultant Bill Rodenberg described a zero-emissions plant that could
help stabilize local energy prices and attract new businesses.
Compared to fossil-fuel power plants, which can generate several thousand
megawatts of energy, the Thurmont plant would generate as much as 30
megawatts. Of the thousands of biomass plants in America, however, Rodenberg
believes it would be among the largest. "Thurmont probably isn't even
findable on some maps," he said. "But we can put this town on the map."
Though estimated at $60 million, Rodenberg said Thurmont stands to profit
from four new sources of income: electricity to be sold to the town,
electricity to be sold to the PMN -- or Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey
-- grid, renewable energy credits, and excess thermal energy recovered from
the plant.
Renewable energy credits could be especially valuable, since Maryland
requires energy companies sell a certain percentage of renewable energy,
Rodenberg said.
"They give us money and get credit for the good work we're doing," he said.
Mayor Martin Burns said building the plant might be a way for Thurmont to
control its destiny when it comes to electricity pricing.
He doesn't believe the town can address its electricity concerns in only
three years, adding that Thurmont still has been dealing with sewer problems
since 2003.
"We don't know if we want to do it, or can afford to do it, but we're
looking into it," he said.
The plant would be owned and controlled by the town, eliminating market
pressures on pricing. The town already distributes electricity to the
majority of its 6,000 residents -- something Rodenberg said is key.
"This town has exactly what we need," he said.
Electric power generated from a biomass plant would cost more than that
generated in a larger, fossil-fuel plant, but the sale of credits will bring
the price down to equal or less than the cost of traditional power. Thurmont
now purchases electricity directly from the grid, and sells it to residents
at a reduced rate, Burns said.
It would take about 50 employees and $25 million a year to run the plant,
compared to five employees and $5 million a year now to provide Thurmont
with power. However, Rodenberg expects the plant could be profitable as soon
as it opens.
"The town of Thurmont is just not in a position to run a venture unless it
is self-sufficient or marginally profitable," he said.
Power would be generated from the ground-up leftovers of tree trimmings,
Rodenberg said. The town would pay for truckloads of waste, which would be
stored and processed at an estimated 100-acre "fuel farm." The exact size of
the farm would depend on the technologies used in processing. A location has
not been discussed.
Maryland generates 800,000 tons of such waste each year, Rodenberg said,
adding that the plant would require about 270 tons a year. Using renewable
biomass for fuel would remove 1.4 million tons of carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere annually, he said, as well as keep waste from going to landfills
and polluting the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Unlike a proposed $323 million joint waste-to-energy plant for Frederick and
Carroll counties, the Thurmont plant would likely process only waste from
plants. This should limit the complexity -- and therefore cost -- of the
project, Rodenberg said.
Rodenberg believes the plant would lure environmentally conscious people and
businesses to Thurmont.
"(Businesses) will be able to put a big sign on their product and say, 'This
product is produced with a zero-carbon footprint,' " he said.
Rodenberg, who is under contract for $1 to apply for federal, state and
private grant money and complete a feasibility study, stressed that the
project is in the early stages. He is talking to several agencies about
possible funding -- the Department of Agriculture will guarantee a $40
million loan for rural community development, he said.
Rodenberg's even lined up a potential customer for the excess thermal
energy. A U.S. company that uses heat energy in its manufacturing process
had looked at moving the company to Europe, Rodenberg said. Now, it is
considering Thurmont.
Rodenberg said he couldn't disclose the name of the company or its product.
Town commissioner Bob Lookingbill worried that the town may be getting ahead
of itself.
"How far along in this journey are we that he could make a statement that
would sway them to move here?" he said. Rodenberg said the grant process
doesn't always follow a logical path. "It's almost like I have to prove the
project is feasible before I can get a grant to do a feasibility study," he
said.
Rodenberg said Wednesday he learned the town wanted to generate its own
electricity in summer 2007 when talking with some people in a local coffee
shop. A certified energy manager and principal consultant of Energy
Management Strategies, Inc., he knew from experience that some ideas
wouldn't work.
"We got to talking about what would work," he said. "One thing led to
another, and here I am in the middle of this."
Rodenberg said the project has taken more time and effort than he
anticipated when he agreed to investigate the possibility of a biomass to
energy plant in late August. He said he expects to ask the commissioners to
review the terms of his $1 contract this week.
"At some point in time there will be a financial advantage for me," he said.
"I'm not completely altruistic in this. I'm in business." For now, he will
concentrate on securing funds for a feasibility study. The next steps will
be to select the technology, complete a design and apply for permits,
Rodenberg said. It might be possible to begin construction by 2009.
"There's nothing here that's rocket science, guys," Rodenberg told the town
commissioners. "The technology is here." |