Former New York State biomass plant to be dismantled
A former biomass plant in Lyonsdale, New York State will be dismantled by the end of 2019. The plant previously burned wood waste to power more than 20,000 homes in the area. Lyonsdale Biomass plant has been dormant for almost two years while the county’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has been searching for a new tenant.
The facility used biomass material from logging operations and sawmills to produce 162,000 MWh of electricity per year, supplying approximately 21,000 homes. It also supplied process steam to the neighbouring Twin Rivers paper mill and its ash by-product was used by local farmers as fertiliser.
The plant opened 25 years ago and is owned by ReEnergy, but its contract to sell renewable energy to the state expired in 2017, resulting in the loss of 22 jobs. As the plant’s future as a biomass power facility under New York State’s Clean Energy Standard was uncertain, ReEnergy is seeking new opportunities to work with local and state economic development officials and developers to repurpose the plant.
The IDA believes the former plant could attract other bioenergy production industries. Erik Virkler, executive director of the Lewis County IDA, said: “We believe this property can be an effective asset for future economic development in Lewis County. Prospective developers, potentially in the forestry or energy production industries, will find this property attractive for business growth.”
ReEnergy CEO Larry D Richardson added: “There are multiple parties who have shown an interest in developing the site, and the interconnection to the electricity grid makes the site of interest to solar developers. We also have been in talks with biofuel companies that are interested in siting a biorefinery in New York State.”
The facility used biomass material from logging operations and sawmills to produce 162,000 MWh of electricity per year, supplying approximately 21,000 homes. It also supplied process steam to the neighbouring Twin Rivers paper mill and its ash by-product was used by local farmers as fertiliser.
The plant opened 25 years ago and is owned by ReEnergy, but its contract to sell renewable energy to the state expired in 2017, resulting in the loss of 22 jobs. As the plant’s future as a biomass power facility under New York State’s Clean Energy Standard was uncertain, ReEnergy is seeking new opportunities to work with local and state economic development officials and developers to repurpose the plant.
The IDA believes the former plant could attract other bioenergy production industries. Erik Virkler, executive director of the Lewis County IDA, said: “We believe this property can be an effective asset for future economic development in Lewis County. Prospective developers, potentially in the forestry or energy production industries, will find this property attractive for business growth.”
ReEnergy CEO Larry D Richardson added: “There are multiple parties who have shown an interest in developing the site, and the interconnection to the electricity grid makes the site of interest to solar developers. We also have been in talks with biofuel companies that are interested in siting a biorefinery in New York State.”
