Amador County – Amador County Planning Commission last week approved documents and a permit for the proposed Buena Vista Biomass Power plant and what could be a $20 million power facility with $2 million in salaries.

The Commission certified a Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report, approved a permit amendment, made a finding of facts, and finalized a statement of overriding considerations to approve the project, setting in motion a two-week appeal period during which the decisions can be appealed.

BVBP President and CEO Michael J. Muston in an e-mail to the commission November 24th said the plant once open would employ 19 or more people and have a salary of $2 million to $2.27 million. He said “Overall construction expenses, including labor costs, are anticipated to be in excess of $20 million.”

The company would operate an electric power generation plant on Coal Mine Road, the former Cogen plant. They plant would burn woody biomass, and rely heavily on forest management trimmings to subside.

Chairman Ray Ryan asked that the commission and staff comment on whether they “all think it’s fully compliant with” the California Environmental Quality Act. No objections were made, and they voted 5-0 to approve the Final SEIR, which Ryan said “reflects the county’s independent analysis and judgment.”

After the votes, Amador County Planner Nathan Lishman said anyone who wished to appeal the Planning Commission actions must do so by letter and by paying an accompanying fee, with a deadline of 5 pm, Monday, December 13th.

County Assessor Jim Rooney said he visited the site of the plant last year because he thought construction would start soon (The plant’s construction was halted for the Final SEIR).

Rooney said it was a unique property and would be hard to assess, and “when we do an assessment like this, we rely on what they tell us.”

Rooney said BVBP was “very forthright” about their costs and value, and “said it would be about a $20 million to $25 million plant.” They also asked about their taxes, and Rooney said it would be 1 percent of the value, and he gave the example that a $20 million plant would pay $200,000. He said “it wasn’t an appraisal. We haven’t done an appraisal, and things have not happened out there in a year.”

He said “we would have to rely on them for what things are worth.” He said he could also talk to other states with similar plants to see how they have been assessed.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.