March 18, 2014 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

DTE Energy Services, Inc. (DTEES), a subsidiary of DTE Energy, has finished its conversion of its shuttered coal-fired power plant at the Port of Stockton to biomass fuel. The plant site was once one of the most polluted in San Joaquin Valley, but can now claim home to one of the cleanest solid-fuel power plants in the country.

Credit: Gary Houston/Wikimedia Commons

Stockton Biomass will use about 320,000 tons of woody biomass fuel annually to generate about 45 MW of power -- to meet the electricity needs of approximately 45,000 homes. The fuel is primarily derived from urban wood waste, tree trimmings and agricultural processes.

The original coal-fired power plant began operation in 1989 and ceased operating in April 2009. DTEES purchased the plant in June 2010, intending to convert the plant to biomass. To minimize emissions, DTEES replaced the boilers and employed the best available control technologies.

Stockton Biomass began commercial operations at the end of February, and is selling its renewable power to PG&E Company to help it meet its renewable energy requirement.

DTEES has completed similar biomass conversions in Cassville, Wis. and Bakersfield, Calif., and operates biomass power plants in Woodland, Calif. and Mobile, Ala.

For more:
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