Permit sought for biomass power plant

MILLTOWN, INDIANA - The developers of a proposed $90 million biomass power plant in Southern Indiana say it would release hundreds of tons of nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide, as well as some hazardous air pollutants, by burning wood waste to generate electricity.

Liberty Green Renewables LLC estimates in its state air permit application that the plant would release 245 tons of nitrogen oxide and 226 tons of carbon dioxide a year.

The project, about 30 miles northwest of Louisville, Ky., also would produce more than 11 tons of chemicals listed as hazardous air pollutants, the application states.

Liberty's permit application begins a months-long review process by state regulators, although the company still must submit water-quality applications to the state and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The 32-megawatt Milltown operation is one of several Liberty expects to develop in the Midwest. The plant would burn wood waste from sawmills, furniture factories and land clearing to generate power. It also would burn some switch grass and corn stover.

But nearby residents, environmental activists and others are concerned about how the plant would contribute to local air and water pollution.

The Crawford County Commissioners voted unanimously this spring to ask federal authorities to conduct a full environmental impact study of the project.

Liberty's goal is to obtain a state air permit in early 2010 and to fire up the burners by 2011. The state has 120 days from the submission to issue a permit.

In the next few months, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's staff will write a permit setting out the details of the project, including emissions limits.

Liberty estimates that levels of each type of air emission would be below a key threshold for air pollution: 250 tons a year. That would let the plant avoid classification as a "major source" of pollution and a more involved review process.

Related News

china nuclear construction

China's nuclear energy on steady development track, say experts

BEIJING - While China has failed to accomplish its 2020 nuclear target of 58 gigawatts under operation and 30 GW under construction, insiders are optimistic about prospects for the nonpolluting energy resource in China over the next five years as the country has stepped up nuclear approvals and construction since 2020.

China expects to record 49 operating nuclear facilities and capacity of more than 51 GW as of the end of 2020. Nuclear power currently makes up around 2.4 percent of the country's total installed energy capacity, said the China Nuclear Energy Association. There are 19 facilities that have received approval…

READ MORE
nrc power plant

US NRC streamlines licensing for advanced reactors

READ MORE

Congressional Democrats

Congressional Democrats push FERC to act on aggregated DERs

READ MORE

pakistan nuclear energy

'Pakistan benefits from nuclear technology'

READ MORE

bolsonaro

Brazil government considers emergency Coronavirus loans for power sector

READ MORE