Amador County – Amador County Air District hosted a public meeting Thursday to discuss a permit to construct an operation at the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant on Coal Mine Road. Air District Consultant Ray Kapahi (Ka-Pie) detailed some of the 27 conditions of the permit, with applicable law that governs the conditions. Among those, it said “air contaminants or other materials shall not be discharged from any source whatsoever in such quantities which can cause injury, detriment, nuisance or annoyance to any considerable number of persons, or to the public.” Kapahi (Ka-Pie) said “if anyone complains of odors, the Air District is obligated to go out and investigate.” They may write it up as a violation, but investigators must smell the odor in the area. He said there will be allowed no more than 1 percent plastic contamination of the woody byproducts burned in the power plant’s incinerator, but they “must determine how that is monitored.” Mark D. Thompson, plant project managing partner, said it would not burn painted wood, and to alleviate dust, the 3-inch maximum fuel chunks will be delivered in trucks and dumped into bins using a foam, like that from fire extinguishers, to cut down dust. He said the woody fuel will not be grinded at the facility. Kapahi (Ka-Pie) said the contents and conditions of the air permit are all “enforceable,” meaning that if the permit is violated, the company can be in legal violation, and face stiff fines. Kapahi (Ka-Pie) said if people “see huge clouds of dust, it’s obviously in violation.” He said in the combustion power industry, “less that ½ of 1 percent of companies violate, because the fines are so large.” Thompson said he has looked at a power plant his company co-owns and operates in Northern California, near Reno. The 36 megawatt plant is twice the size of the Cogen Plant, at 18 megawatts. He said at the Buena Vista Plant, “on a normal day, nothing is going to come out of our stack,” because they will regulate emissions. A computer monitor will show – like a bank statement – what comes from the plant’s combustion. Thompson said “of the 36 biomass plants out there, we will be the most efficient, because we will be coming online today – not in 1983 or 1999.” He said “technology is always advancing and we are required to keep up with it.” All records at the plant will be maintained on-site for 5 years, and made available to district staff for inspection. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 01 February 2010 17:00
Buena Vista Biomass Power Permit Lists 27 Conditions for Operation
Written by Tom-
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Amador County – Amador County Air District hosted a public meeting Thursday to discuss a permit to construct an operation at the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant on Coal Mine Road. Air District Consultant Ray Kapahi (Ka-Pie) detailed some of the 27 conditions of the permit, with applicable law that governs the conditions. Among those, it said “air contaminants or other materials shall not be discharged from any source whatsoever in such quantities which can cause injury, detriment, nuisance or annoyance to any considerable number of persons, or to the public.” Kapahi (Ka-Pie) said “if anyone complains of odors, the Air District is obligated to go out and investigate.” They may write it up as a violation, but investigators must smell the odor in the area. He said there will be allowed no more than 1 percent plastic contamination of the woody byproducts burned in the power plant’s incinerator, but they “must determine how that is monitored.” Mark D. Thompson, plant project managing partner, said it would not burn painted wood, and to alleviate dust, the 3-inch maximum fuel chunks will be delivered in trucks and dumped into bins using a foam, like that from fire extinguishers, to cut down dust. He said the woody fuel will not be grinded at the facility. Kapahi (Ka-Pie) said the contents and conditions of the air permit are all “enforceable,” meaning that if the permit is violated, the company can be in legal violation, and face stiff fines. Kapahi (Ka-Pie) said if people “see huge clouds of dust, it’s obviously in violation.” He said in the combustion power industry, “less that ½ of 1 percent of companies violate, because the fines are so large.” Thompson said he has looked at a power plant his company co-owns and operates in Northern California, near Reno. The 36 megawatt plant is twice the size of the Cogen Plant, at 18 megawatts. He said at the Buena Vista Plant, “on a normal day, nothing is going to come out of our stack,” because they will regulate emissions. A computer monitor will show – like a bank statement – what comes from the plant’s combustion. Thompson said “of the 36 biomass plants out there, we will be the most efficient, because we will be coming online today – not in 1983 or 1999.” He said “technology is always advancing and we are required to keep up with it.” All records at the plant will be maintained on-site for 5 years, and made available to district staff for inspection. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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