Generating facility in L'Anse nominated for Innovation Award

subscribe

An electric power plant in L'Anse has been nominated for a Small Business Innovation Award in Michigan.

The L'Anse Warden Electric Company plant, a recent start-up company, was converted from a coal-burning plan to a biomass plant, said Natural Resources Commissioner J.R. Richardson, who is the Technical and Safety Manager at the plant.

"This is an exciting venture that is bringing clean, ‘green’ energy to Michigan," said Mike Reid COO the plant. "Not only is the plant greatly reducing emissions, but it is also reducing landfill space by burning paper mill residue, sawmill and wood processing waste, tire chips and old railroad ties."

The plant is located in L'Anse in Baraga County, and was first opened in 1959 as a coal-burning electric power plant to support the Celotex facility. It was converted to natural gas in 1993, and was placed in a long-term standby condition at that time, Reid said. In 2007, the New York-based company Traxys North America purchased the plant and converted it to a biomass burning plant.

Reid said that the conversion means that the plan will reduce particulate emissions by 40 tons per year, and fine particulates will be reduced by 46 tons per year. Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides will be reduced by 1,700 tons per year, which is a greater than 50 percent reduction from burning coal.

Reid said other improvements were made by Traxys to the plant's surroundings, including a new break wall that will improve area fish habitat. Construction work was completed on the break wall in a manner to avoid interference with fish spawning activities. The company also assisted with dredging the L'Anse Marina as a donation to the local community.

The plant recently was nominated for a Small Business Innovation Award, and the winner will be named in April by the Small Business Association of Michigan at its annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards ceremony in Lansing.

Related News

power line

Manitoba Hydro scales back rate increase next year

WINNIPEG - Manitoba Hydro is scaling back its rate hike request for next year, instead of the annual 7.9 per cent hikes the Crown corporation previously said it would need until 2023-24 to address debt. 

Hydro is asking the Public Utilities Board for a 3.5 per cent rate increase next year, which would take effect on April 1.

In last week's application, Hydro said its new board is reviewing the corporation's financial picture. Once that is complete, the utility expects to submit a new multi-year rate application in late 2019 that addresses the organization's long-term future.

"It's too speculative at this point to discuss any possible future rate increases," spokesperson Bruce…

READ MORE
ontario powerlines

Ontario Providing Support for Industrial and Commercial Electricity Consumers During COVID-19

READ MORE

pickering ngs

Ontario will refurbish Pickering B NGS

READ MORE

europe at night

Six key trends that shaped Europe's electricity markets in 2020

READ MORE

power bill

N.S. senior suspects smart meter to blame for shocking $666 power bill

READ MORE