PHOTO: DANISH ENERGY AGENCY
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT¦
DENMARK'S DEXTERITY: Permitting biomass power plants such as Plant Maarbjerg in Jutland, Denmark, a combined-heat-and-power facility, is much easier than in the U.S. as Denmark has an ambitious goal of 30 percent renewables by 2020.
environmental act, Oregon, for instance, would not require such a permit or assessment, outside of the energy facility siting certification, Darby says. U.S. biopower company Adage has alleviated some of the headaches that come with developing in different states by using a reference design intended specifically to fall under certain permitting requirements in the states the company has considered for development. Adage's 55-megawatt model will run on forest residues and employ best achievable control technologies (BACT) to ensure more ease in the permitting process, according to spokesman Tom DePonty. The company has permit-
ted two projects: one in Hamilton County, Fla., and another in Mason County, Wash. Florida permitting was made simpler because the site already had an Environmental Resource Permit, which comes from the State Department of Environmental Protection, DePonty explains. The permit needed minor amendments, though, because of differences between the biopower facility and the operation that was originally granted the permit but didn’t develop there. The air permit for Florida was also granted by the Department of Environmental Protection, which does not require a BACT analysis, DePonty says. “We meet
APRIL 2011 | BIOMASS POWER & THERMAL 45