Biomass Cogeneration to be Discussed at PABA meeting
At this Tuesday’s meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association, guest speakers will be Tom Swanson, area manager for Green Crow Corp.; Harry Bell of Green Crow; and Ted Simpson, Clallam County Public Utility District Commissioner.
They’ll be discussing biomass cogeneration — generating electricity by burning wood waste — which would be undertaken by Nippon Paper Industries USA in Port Angeles and Port Townsend Paper Corp.
The PABA’s weekly meetings are held on Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m. at Joshua’s.
They’ll be discussing biomass cogeneration — generating electricity by burning wood waste — which would be undertaken by Nippon Paper Industries USA in Port Angeles and Port Townsend Paper Corp.
The PABA’s weekly meetings are held on Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m. at Joshua’s.
posted by Tom Harper at 4:38 PM
10 Comments:
Not that this is a one-sided panel or anything...
Anonymous said...
Not that this is a one-sided panel or anything...
5:11 PM, October 24, 2010
This is the PABA that so whole-heartedly supported HarborWorks. What do you expect?
They are not interested in what is really going on, they want to hear what they already believe in.
I have some questions regarding this project that I’m afraid will be ignored/unanswered amid all the environmental noise this is generating.
1. Doesn’t the mill get all the power it needs thru a reduced rate arrangement because of dam removal?
2. This is a 71million dollar project. Is Nippon investing this much to simply generate power for its mill operation? (if the mill’s power bill were 10000 a month, 71million would pay it for over 500 years.)
3. Is Nippon positioning itself to become a power generation facility?
4. Is there any tangible benefit to the community aside from the few temporary jobs generated by its construction?
As I understand it, the mill does get all the power it needs from the BPA arrangement, but needs more steam for its papermaking operation than the current boiler will produce. The new boiler will produce the necessary steam, with MUCH LESS polution, while at the same time generating "green" electricity it can sell into the grid at a premium price, thus assuring a second revenue source to help keep the business enterprize profitable and providing continuing jobs for our community.
So, Anon 4:04 PM -
If what you say is true ----
Would the mill have such a profitable second revenue source if its operations weren't being so heavily subsidized by taxpayers and utility ratepayers? The mill pays next to nothing for the millions of gallons of water it uses every day to produce steam; it also pays the cheapest electricity bill possible, due to the special deal it gets as a result of the Elwha Restoration Act. It is in line for government grants and incentives worth millions of dollars that will help defray the costs of the new biomass facility.
Where's the equity in this continuing corporate bail-out arrangement?
If business grants and subsidies and sweetheart deals on utility bills are such a good idea, spread these perks through the community instead. Let smaller local businesses benefit from similar breaks so that they can improve their facilities and add jobs. That way the jobs AND the business profits would stay local. And there could be a healthier, more diversified Port Angeles economy.
Question: Is a mill that makes more money from selling electricity than it does from selling paper still a mill? Or, is it in fact a power generation facility? These are important questions - all manner of approvals (local, state, federal) hang on the answers.
All you environuts talked about for YEARS was BIOMASS, BIOMASS, BIOMASS. Now ya got your heads up your arse backwards bitchin just because (in your eyes) an EVIL corporation wants to use just that. Face it, you'll never be satisfied unless we all live the minimalist putrid lives you do.
...and I'll bet you hypocrites all have frickin woodstoves. Go away...you stink and your arguments have NO scientific basis.
All you environuts talked about for YEARS was BIOMASS, BIOMASS, BIOMASS. Now ya got your heads up your arse backwards bitchin just because ...blah blah blah
Hey Anonymous/ Sandy/ Rachel : If you had actually read the accompanying comments in this thread, you would have noticed there are no “environmental “ issues stated at all. Not one so far… Rather, most are concerned with our local government “giving away the store.” Any thoughts on that? Or are you just trying to fit your lame tea bagger arguments to a point that has nothing to do with it?
WTF... it's been nice around here with you gone.
Good questions to ask WTF?
1. Yes, the mill gets the equivalent of approx. 38% of its power "at cost" from the dams, and will continue to do so.
2. The mill plans to use steam generated for their paper machines. They plan to continue to purchase power at their guaranteed cheap rate, and sell the power they produce at the going rate.
3. Nippon is positioning itself to make the most money it can, and take advantage of all gov't money it can get.
4. No tangible benefit, and much more pollution.
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