Biomass to the rescue?
•Interview with executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Stephen Smith
By JOHN DORSCHNER
dorschner@MiamiHerald.com
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What biomass is not is food. ''No one is talking about using food for power,'' says John Bonitz of the Southern Alliance. ``This is not corn and ethanol.''
A growing number of critics are speaking out against subsidies for ethanol, saying they've raised food prices and contributed to food shortages in some parts of the world. ''Food into fuel is clearly a dumb idea,'' says Lester Lave, an energy expert at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
In Florida, biomass already produces 1,100 megawatts of power, according a recent study by Navigant Consultants. About half of that comes from 11 waste-to-energy plants that process local garbage and trash.
The other half comes from the leftovers in the timber and sugar-cane industries, which use the power first for their own needs, then sell the remainder to utilities. The biggest plant is run by Florida Crysta1s near South Bay, producing 140 megawatts of power from bagasse, the term for cane waste after the sugar is squeezed out, and from Miami-Dade yard trash.
Florida Power & Light, the state's largest utility, reports that in 2007 it purchased 1.5 million megawatt-hours from biomass plants totaling 303 megawatts of capacity -- a tiny fraction of the 25 million megawatts that the utility uses.
COSTS -- CHEAP
Around the nation, biomass plants have a long, well established history. More than half -- 53 percent -- of all renewables nationwide in 2007 came from biomass, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Biomass advocates point out that this waste produces baseload power -- meaning it can fuel plants around the clock -- while solar power usually operates about 20 to 25 percent of the time.
In Burlington, Vt., the 50-megawatt McNeil power station has been operating successfully since 1984, using mostly left-over branches, leaves and stumps generated by people harvesting firewood or lumber.
Plant manager John Irving says McNeil breaks even at 5.5 cents per kilowatt/hour. (To compare, the typical Florida utility customer pays the utility 10 to 13 cents/kWh.)
The price for McNeil power fluctuates depending on alternative sources. ''There were some times when oil/gas was very cheap when I'm sure our owners were thinking maybe we should have done something else,'' wrote Irving in an e-mail. But lately, the utility has been getting 10 or 12 cents/kWh, plus a three-cent bonus from Connecticut for providing clean energy. ''They're pretty happy now,'' Irving says of the owners.
What's more, much of the plant's costs are in labor -- harvesting the wood waste and getting it to the plant. ``So that's economic development, compared to sending all your money to the Middle East.''
Meanwhile, Georgia Power proposes changing its 96-megawatt Mitchell Plant from burning coal to biomass. This would not only eliminate a source of the worst emitter of greenhouse gases but would also reduce fuel costs by 30 percent and operating-maintenance costs by 13 percent over the life of the plant, according to spokesman Jeff Wilson.
Most of the wood fuel would come from sources considered unusable by timber companies, Georgia Power says. The switch to biomass is estimated to create 50 to 75 new jobs.
In Florida, Biomass Gas & Electric has deals to build three plants, including a 42-megawatt generator in Tallahassee. BG&E spokesman Keith McDermott says the contract will pay BG&E 7.2 cents/kWh. ``Obviously we know we can make the economics work. We're in the business to make money.''
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Herald story- page 1
COVER STORY
Biomass to the rescue?
•Interview with executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Stephen Smith
By JOHN DORSCHNER
dorschner@MiamiHerald.com
for Biomass Gas & Electric, which has deals
to build three plants in Florida
Nobody loves biomass. When talk turns to global warming and the green movement, it's hardly ever mentioned. Biomass can be garbage (literally) or wood chips or sugar-cane remnants or grass.
Still, among energy experts, biomass has some strong supporters, and for good reason: Right now, virtually all the renewable-energy power in Florida comes from biomass, including three plants in Miami-Dade and Broward.
What's more, it's cheap -- cheaper in some instances even than coal, which is generally considered the nation's least expensive way of producing electricity but is also the biggest producer of greenhouse gases that scientists say are heating up the globe.
''We're very strong supporters of biomass,'' says Stephen Smith, head of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. ''In the short run, it will be a real workhorse.'' But he adds: ``There are various shades of green in biomass. Some is better than others.''
As policymakers search for alternatives to fossil fuels that threaten to submerge South Florida under the sea, biomass has emerged as a leading possibility, much more plausible than wind in the state, but it comes with strong pluses and minuses.
Big business has gotten involved. Leading biomass producers -- including the multimillionaire Fanjul family with an electric plant burning sugar-cane leftovers -- have joined the push to require utilities to use more renewables and pay proper rates for them, which would mean the businesses could get decent revenue by expanding operations.
Still, many have concerns. ''Not all biomass is created equal,'' says Gerald Karnas of the Environmental Defense Fund.
Some environmentalists believe garbage is not as green as, say, wood chips. Others worry that arundo donax, a towering grass proposed by some as a biomass fuel, might spread unintentionally to many areas, including the Everglades, as have other non-native plants.
What's more, major companies in North Florida that use wood products are concerned that state subsidies for renewable energy could drive up the prices of timber that are used for everything from paper to fat-free ice cream.
Even so, research prepared for the Public Service Commission is showing that biomass and solar are the two top practical renewables in Florida.
''The bottom line is that Florida is well positioned for growth in biomass,'' says Sean Stafford, a lobbyist for Florida Crystals, the Fanjul company. He points out that biomass does not have the ''volatile price structure'' associated with natural gas, the No. 1 energy source of Florida Power & Light.
What follows is a primer on biomass.
ITS QUALITIES:
CARBON NEUTRAL?
Some biomass -- sugar-cane waste, wood chips -- is generally considered carbon neutral. As cane and trees grow, they soak up carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas. That gas is released when the biomass is burned, meaning they produce energy without contributing to climate change.
Garbage is another story. ''In Florida, biomass has a a very broad definition, according to the state legislature,'' says Karnas. ``In some states, power from municipal solid waste wouldn't be considered a renewable.''
The reason: Experts dispute how carbon neutral garbage is. ''It depends what's in it,'' says Smith of the Southern Alliance. ``If it's mostly yard clippings and paper, that could mean very little carbon. If there's a lot of plastic, that's made by a fossil fuel, meaning it's releasing quite a bit of carbon.''
Biomass to the rescue?
•Interview with executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Stephen Smith
By JOHN DORSCHNER
dorschner@MiamiHerald.com
for Biomass Gas & Electric, which has deals
to build three plants in Florida
Nobody loves biomass. When talk turns to global warming and the green movement, it's hardly ever mentioned. Biomass can be garbage (literally) or wood chips or sugar-cane remnants or grass.
Still, among energy experts, biomass has some strong supporters, and for good reason: Right now, virtually all the renewable-energy power in Florida comes from biomass, including three plants in Miami-Dade and Broward.
What's more, it's cheap -- cheaper in some instances even than coal, which is generally considered the nation's least expensive way of producing electricity but is also the biggest producer of greenhouse gases that scientists say are heating up the globe.
''We're very strong supporters of biomass,'' says Stephen Smith, head of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. ''In the short run, it will be a real workhorse.'' But he adds: ``There are various shades of green in biomass. Some is better than others.''
As policymakers search for alternatives to fossil fuels that threaten to submerge South Florida under the sea, biomass has emerged as a leading possibility, much more plausible than wind in the state, but it comes with strong pluses and minuses.
Big business has gotten involved. Leading biomass producers -- including the multimillionaire Fanjul family with an electric plant burning sugar-cane leftovers -- have joined the push to require utilities to use more renewables and pay proper rates for them, which would mean the businesses could get decent revenue by expanding operations.
Still, many have concerns. ''Not all biomass is created equal,'' says Gerald Karnas of the Environmental Defense Fund.
Some environmentalists believe garbage is not as green as, say, wood chips. Others worry that arundo donax, a towering grass proposed by some as a biomass fuel, might spread unintentionally to many areas, including the Everglades, as have other non-native plants.
What's more, major companies in North Florida that use wood products are concerned that state subsidies for renewable energy could drive up the prices of timber that are used for everything from paper to fat-free ice cream.
Even so, research prepared for the Public Service Commission is showing that biomass and solar are the two top practical renewables in Florida.
''The bottom line is that Florida is well positioned for growth in biomass,'' says Sean Stafford, a lobbyist for Florida Crystals, the Fanjul company. He points out that biomass does not have the ''volatile price structure'' associated with natural gas, the No. 1 energy source of Florida Power & Light.
What follows is a primer on biomass.
ITS QUALITIES:
CARBON NEUTRAL?
Some biomass -- sugar-cane waste, wood chips -- is generally considered carbon neutral. As cane and trees grow, they soak up carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas. That gas is released when the biomass is burned, meaning they produce energy without contributing to climate change.
Garbage is another story. ''In Florida, biomass has a a very broad definition, according to the state legislature,'' says Karnas. ``In some states, power from municipal solid waste wouldn't be considered a renewable.''
The reason: Experts dispute how carbon neutral garbage is. ''It depends what's in it,'' says Smith of the Southern Alliance. ``If it's mostly yard clippings and paper, that could mean very little carbon. If there's a lot of plastic, that's made by a fossil fuel, meaning it's releasing quite a bit of carbon.''
pool operation to be focus
It will be interesting to see if the Mayor and Council are concerned at all about the Optimist fabrication? The Mayor is a longtime Optimist, what was HIS reaction to hearing about this fabrication? WHY didnt he speak up ? Are they even aware that the numbers posted on the City website make NO sense when compared to the revenues they SAY they took in? not even close. Are they aware or concerned that the pool was NOT being rented along the guidelines they set out? Are they aware that the nonsensical explanation offered by the City Manager for renting it for $200 a month to encourage Springs swimmers, does NOT affect the money the swimmers pay IN THE LEAST? THEY still pay the same amount, only the swim team benefits by the $1100 a month discount. That comes straight out of the residents pockets into MDAC's pockets. Have they ONCE asked the City Manager for verification of the pool revenues? Or ANYTHING about the pool? Did they approve that $200 a month rent for MDAC? If so, WHEN was that approved? On WHAT grounds? Did they just take that nonsensical explanation without ANY discussion? debate? WHAT were they thinking? Were they thinking AT ALL?
focus on missing revenues
Are we saying all this is a squabble between two swim team coaches? It is still not clear how someone could fix a swim meet. Facts are needed, and until they are presented and verified it will be hard to give much credence to unsubstantiated claims. While some questions WERE answered at the last Council meeting, the important ones werent, mainly because the memo wasnt presented until AFTER the meeting. The next meeting will NOT be about closing the pool. It will be about the fabrications, handshake deals, poor accounting methods for revenues, and uncollected rents. it would also be interesting to hear the City Manager's and Council's take on the taping incident- what happened, was the tape ever really turned in, what is currently being done to protect the employees, now and in the future, where does the City stand on this situation, etc? It will also be interesting to see how the Mayor and Council respond to the Optimist fabrication, the annual revenues fabrications on the website, the lack of rosters and verification of Springs swimmers on MDAC, and why MDAC was given an $1100 per month discount from standard fees charged at the junior college when it benefits the swimmers NONE - only the owners. If MDAC is there they can show the cancelled checks, bank statement, and deposit slips from their payments to practice at the pool since they came here. Gym can confirm the payments were received and applied to city accounts with bank statements, deposit slips, and quarterly reports for the past three years. Then he can show us how they all ( Columbus $1500, Reagan $1500, MSSH, middle school, meets, polo team practices, MDAC practice fees, polo camp, vending machines, private parties, etc.) total up to $2150 in Aquatics/polo revenues. The focus will NOT be on closing the pool. It WILL be on getting some answers to these questions.
inaccuracies?
What information has the resident presented that wasnt accurate? Did he say there was an Optimist connection? Did he say that MDAC has been paying $200 a month all along? (only to find evidence of of only FOUR months payments in the last 36 months). Did he say that the pool meet rentals were $750 a day, yet no evidence of that sum ever being collected, exists? Did he post annual revenues on the City website that bear NO resemblance to the claims that are made by city officials, regarding actual income taken in ? What exactly did he say that was inaccurate? He is willing to listen to other accurate and verifiable numbers from other sources if they are available, but none have been posted here! Gorland admitted to the resident that at times the numbers of Springs swimmers on MDAC dip into the single digits, yet Gym's memo says, according to the team owner, the lowest it has been is 15 kids. The POOL DIRECTOR (Gorland)doesnt know how many Springs kids from MDAC are using the pool? Who are we to believe? Why dont they just give us a roster for the past three years (to account for seasonality) and settle it, once and for all? Lets clear this up.
confirmation request
Attn: Ronald Reagan HS, Carlos Perez, Athletic Director. 8600 NW 107 Ave, Doral, Fla. 33178. phone (305) 805- 1900. Mr. Perez, I would appreciate your assistance in providing any verification and/or confirmation that the swim team paid $1500 to the City of MS for use of their pool facilities for swim team practice. There seems to be some doubt and/or question about this payment for the 2007 season. Thank you in advance. I will await your reply.
fabricated figures
IF, as it currently appears, pool rent was only paid for FOUR of the past 36 MONTHS, what is the Mayor and/or the Council going to do about this? Are they going to investigate this ANY further? If Gym says that MDAC is now paying $500 a month, why would ANYBODY believe him? Is there ANY evidence that they are REALLY paying that amount? Gym has a tendency to fabricate things- is THIS another one of his fabrications? Four out of 36 months of payments seems to be enough for Gym. Is it enough for the Mayor and the Council? If so, they need to go!
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