Date: October 7, 2011
Source: BBI International
Ground has been broken on a new $275 million, 75-megawatt biomass plant in Berlin, NH that is expected to begin generating power in 2013. The Burgess BioPower facility acquired that name after Cate Street Capital bought the project formerly known as the Berlin Station for $272.5 million from its developer Laidlaw Energy. Babcock & Wilcox Company (Charlotte, NC) has been awarded a contract worth more than $186 million to engineer and construct the facility. The project initially encountered a number of barriers, including local opposition and petitions for intervention in its power purchase agreement (PPA) process. Earlier this year, a reorganization of the years-long project prompted a change of the name from Laidlaw Berlin BioPower LLC to Berlin Station. Cate Street won endorsement for the project from New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch who urged the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to accept the PPAs agreed upon by Public Service New Hampshire (PSNH) and five of the six independent biomass power plants.
PRESS RELEASE
October 7, 2011
Berlin Starts Production on New Biomass Power Plant
One of the Many Exciting Topics at This Year's Northeast Biomass Conference & Trade Show, Produced by BBI International
More than 250 people turned out for the groundbreaking ceremony of Burgess BioPower, formerly known as the Berlin Station, in Berlin, N.H., Oct. 6, including New Hampshire's governor and the city's mayor.
The $275 million, 75-megawatt plant is expected to begin generating power in 2013, selling it to New Hampshire Public Service under a 20-year power purchase agreement. New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development Commissioner George Bald, and Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier were among the state and local officials in attendance at the groundbreaking.
"This is a wonderful pre-holiday gift for us, bringing desperately needed jobs to Berlin and Coos County," Grenier said. "This biomass plant is a huge benefit to all the people of northern New Hampshire, not just those here and now, but for future generations as well. Use of biofuels can reduce dependence on out-of-state and foreign energy sources, keeping energy dollars invested in New Hampshire's economy." Developer Cate Street Capital said Grenier has been an ardent supporter and instrumental leader throughout the project's permitting process.
Burgess BioPower sits on the Androscoggin River in downtown Berlin on the former site of the Fraser Papers pulp mill, which closed in 2006. The biomass plant will burn approximately 750,000 tons of low-grade wood per year.
"The construction of this new biomass power plant will bring jobs to the North Country, and increase the amount of renewable energy used in New Hampshire," Gov. Lynch said. "I am pleased we were all able to work together -- Cate Street Capital, PSNH, local and state officials -- so that we can break ground on this facility, which will be a real economic benefit to the North Country."
The project has certainly had its barriers including local opposition, as well as disagreements with six independent biomass power plants in the state also vying for PPAs with PSNH. An agreement was reached among Cate Street Capital, PSNH and the six plants in August, allowing development of Burgess BioPower to continue.
No protesters attended the groundbreaking, according to Scott Tranchemontagne, spokesperson for Cate Street Capital. "There's not a lot to protest anymore," he said. "It's a done deal."
Learn more about this and related topics at the Northeast Biomass Conference & Trade Show taking place October 11-13 in Pittsburgh, P.A. Visit: www.biomassconference.com/northeast
Tracks Listed Below: Track 1: Biomass Power Track 2: Biomass Thermal Track 3: Biorefining Track 4: Project Development
About BBI International: Founded in 1995, BBI International produces globally recognized bioenergy events and trade magazines. In addition to the International Biomass Conference & Expo and its allied regional events, BBI owns and operates the largest, longest-running ethanol conference in the world -- the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) -- and the International Biorefining Conference & Trade Show. The company publishes Biomass Power & Thermal, Ethanol Producer Magazine, Biorefining Magazine, and Biodiesel Magazine, as well as a number of ancillary products including maps, directories, e-newsletters and other web-based industry resources.
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