Got to love penny stocks. This is the lates news as of yesterday for the Berlin project. Business is still going on as usually but timelines are being missed with news on projects.
BERLIN — Area residents had their turn Tuesday
night to ask questions and offer comments on Laidlaw’s
proposed biomass plant.
About 150 people attended the three-hour hearing
by the state Site Evaluation Committee subcommittee.
The eight-member subcommittee will decide
whether Laidlaw Berlin BioPower can construct and
operate the 70-megawatt plant.
Comments ran two to one in favor of the biomass
plant with supporters arguing it will provide jobs and
a need boost to the local economy and Berlin’s tax
base.
Opponents focused on the location of the plant in
the middle of the city and questioned whether there
is suffi cient [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]wood[/COLOR][/COLOR] in the region to supply the needs of
Laidlaw and other existing wood-based operations.
Mayor Paul Grenier, City Councilors Mike Rozek,
Bob Danderson, and Executive Councilor Raymond
Burton all spoke individually in favor of the proposal.
Also in support were the Coos County Commission
and the heads of various state and local [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]trade[/COLOR][/COLOR]
unions.
Grenier noted his campaign for mayor centered on
Laidlaw and the jobs it will create and he pointed out
he won with 60 percent of the vote.
Danderson said if Laidlaw’s proposal is not successful,
the old mill [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]boiler[/COLOR][/COLOR] will simply become a giant
decaying eyesore that will negatively impact the city.
He said the North Country needs the jobs including
the indirect forestry jobs the biomass plant will
create.
“Our biggest problem isn’t smoke or
the smell. It’s poverty,” he said.
Sawmill owner Barry Kelley called
the Laidlaw plant a “tremendous project
for Coos County”. He challenged
concerns about the wood supply,
noting three mills have closed in the
North Country that together used 1.3
million tons of wood annually.
Kelley reminded the crowd that the
old mill property is an industrial site
that sits adjacent to a Superfund site.
He said Laidlaw will help clean up the
site and make it available for redevelopment.
With the existing hydro
plants on the Androscoggin River,
the Granite Reliable Power wind
[COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]farm[/COLOR][/COLOR], and the Laidlaw plant, Kelly
said Berlin will be the state’s leading
renewable energy generator.
“We will be the capital of green
energy for the state,” he said.
Opponents included former Mayor
David Bertrand and local business
people Jonathan Edwards and Katie
Paine.
Bertrand said the city has to live
with the SEC’s decision for the next
25 to 30 years. For the fi rst time in
Berlin’s history, he said the city has
an opportunity to choose its destiny.
He said a biomass plant in the middle
of the downtown might not be in the
city’s best interest.
Katie Paine said she moved her
business with its 15 jobs to Berlin to
be part of a mixed use and creative
economy. She said she will consider
relocating her business if a biomass
plant goes forward on the old mill
site.
Some speakers, like Larry Kelly, said
they want to see more information on
wood supply, whether the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]developer[/COLOR][/COLOR]
has adequate capital, and Laidlaw’s
relationship with Elliotcottville, N.Y.
Laidlaw President Michael Bartoszek
presented an overview of the project.
He said the biomass plant would
employ 40 people with a total annual
[COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]payroll[/COLOR][/COLOR] of $2 million. In addition, it is
projected it would create another 147
spin-off jobs especially in the forest
products industry with annual wood
purchases in the $25 million range.
Peak employment during construction
would reach about 300 with a
projected budget of up to $90 million.
Bartoszek said the plant is projected
to begin operations in the spring of
2013.
He promised the plant will use only
clean wood chips and said his company
is committed to putting in place
a sustainable procurement policy.
Laidlaw also has an agreement to
supply hot water to the Fraser paper
mill in Gorham.
Bartoszek said Laidlaw will work
to attract other businesses to the site
and has agreed to the construction of
a river walk, a snowmobile/[COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]ATV [COLOR=blue !important]trail[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
corridor, and a community parking
lot. He said Laidlaw has also offered
to work with the city to acquire the
remaining 65 acres of the pulp mill
site for economic development.
Finally, Bartoszek said the biomass
plant would pay over $1 million
annually in property taxes to the city,
making it one of Berlin’s largest tax
payers.
Questions centered on the ownership
structure and fi nancing of Laidlaw
as well as wood supply, noise,
truck traffi c, and smell.
Bartoszek explained that Laidlaw
is the owner and developer of the
project but PJPD Holdings owns the
land. Homeland Renewable Energy is
an indirect equity owner. Laidlaw has
entered into a long-term lease with
PJPD Holdings, which has provided
$10 million to date. Bartoszek said of
the $125 million project, he expects
$40 million to be fi nanced by equity
ownership and the balance will be
debt fi nancing from a variety of institutional
investors. Once Laidlaw has
its permits and approvals, it will go
out into the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]market[/COLOR][/COLOR] for fi nancing.
There will be up to 125 trucks per
day except on Sundays – truck traffi c
will be slightly below the level of the
pulp mill. The plant will conform to
the city’s noise ordinance.
On-site chipping will be done in an
enclosed building and there will be no
smell associated with the operation.
SEC subcommittee chair Tom Burrack
said Tuesday’s public hearing
is not the last opportunity for public
input. He said he expects to hold some
future proceedings in Coos County.
There is an opportunity for public
comment at all of the SEC meetings
and written comments are accepted
throughout the 8-month process.
The public can e-mail comments to
Jane. Murray@des.nh.gov. They can
also contact the two Counsels for the
Public from the state Senior Assistant
Attorneys General Allen Brooks
at allen.brooks@doj.nh.gov. Or Peter
Roth peter.roth@doj.nh.gov or by calling
271-3658.
The SEC subcommittee is charged
with reaching a decision by September
23.
http://www.laconiadailysun.com/BerlinPDF/2010/3/18B.pdf
BERLIN — Area residents had their turn Tuesday
night to ask questions and offer comments on Laidlaw’s
proposed biomass plant.
About 150 people attended the three-hour hearing
by the state Site Evaluation Committee subcommittee.
The eight-member subcommittee will decide
whether Laidlaw Berlin BioPower can construct and
operate the 70-megawatt plant.
Comments ran two to one in favor of the biomass
plant with supporters arguing it will provide jobs and
a need boost to the local economy and Berlin’s tax
base.
Opponents focused on the location of the plant in
the middle of the city and questioned whether there
is suffi cient [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]wood[/COLOR][/COLOR] in the region to supply the needs of
Laidlaw and other existing wood-based operations.
Mayor Paul Grenier, City Councilors Mike Rozek,
Bob Danderson, and Executive Councilor Raymond
Burton all spoke individually in favor of the proposal.
Also in support were the Coos County Commission
and the heads of various state and local [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]trade[/COLOR][/COLOR]
unions.
Grenier noted his campaign for mayor centered on
Laidlaw and the jobs it will create and he pointed out
he won with 60 percent of the vote.
Danderson said if Laidlaw’s proposal is not successful,
the old mill [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]boiler[/COLOR][/COLOR] will simply become a giant
decaying eyesore that will negatively impact the city.
He said the North Country needs the jobs including
the indirect forestry jobs the biomass plant will
create.
“Our biggest problem isn’t smoke or
the smell. It’s poverty,” he said.
Sawmill owner Barry Kelley called
the Laidlaw plant a “tremendous project
for Coos County”. He challenged
concerns about the wood supply,
noting three mills have closed in the
North Country that together used 1.3
million tons of wood annually.
Kelley reminded the crowd that the
old mill property is an industrial site
that sits adjacent to a Superfund site.
He said Laidlaw will help clean up the
site and make it available for redevelopment.
With the existing hydro
plants on the Androscoggin River,
the Granite Reliable Power wind
[COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]farm[/COLOR][/COLOR], and the Laidlaw plant, Kelly
said Berlin will be the state’s leading
renewable energy generator.
“We will be the capital of green
energy for the state,” he said.
Opponents included former Mayor
David Bertrand and local business
people Jonathan Edwards and Katie
Paine.
Bertrand said the city has to live
with the SEC’s decision for the next
25 to 30 years. For the fi rst time in
Berlin’s history, he said the city has
an opportunity to choose its destiny.
He said a biomass plant in the middle
of the downtown might not be in the
city’s best interest.
Katie Paine said she moved her
business with its 15 jobs to Berlin to
be part of a mixed use and creative
economy. She said she will consider
relocating her business if a biomass
plant goes forward on the old mill
site.
Some speakers, like Larry Kelly, said
they want to see more information on
wood supply, whether the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]developer[/COLOR][/COLOR]
has adequate capital, and Laidlaw’s
relationship with Elliotcottville, N.Y.
Laidlaw President Michael Bartoszek
presented an overview of the project.
He said the biomass plant would
employ 40 people with a total annual
[COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]payroll[/COLOR][/COLOR] of $2 million. In addition, it is
projected it would create another 147
spin-off jobs especially in the forest
products industry with annual wood
purchases in the $25 million range.
Peak employment during construction
would reach about 300 with a
projected budget of up to $90 million.
Bartoszek said the plant is projected
to begin operations in the spring of
2013.
He promised the plant will use only
clean wood chips and said his company
is committed to putting in place
a sustainable procurement policy.
Laidlaw also has an agreement to
supply hot water to the Fraser paper
mill in Gorham.
Bartoszek said Laidlaw will work
to attract other businesses to the site
and has agreed to the construction of
a river walk, a snowmobile/[COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]ATV [COLOR=blue !important]trail[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
corridor, and a community parking
lot. He said Laidlaw has also offered
to work with the city to acquire the
remaining 65 acres of the pulp mill
site for economic development.
Finally, Bartoszek said the biomass
plant would pay over $1 million
annually in property taxes to the city,
making it one of Berlin’s largest tax
payers.
Questions centered on the ownership
structure and fi nancing of Laidlaw
as well as wood supply, noise,
truck traffi c, and smell.
Bartoszek explained that Laidlaw
is the owner and developer of the
project but PJPD Holdings owns the
land. Homeland Renewable Energy is
an indirect equity owner. Laidlaw has
entered into a long-term lease with
PJPD Holdings, which has provided
$10 million to date. Bartoszek said of
the $125 million project, he expects
$40 million to be fi nanced by equity
ownership and the balance will be
debt fi nancing from a variety of institutional
investors. Once Laidlaw has
its permits and approvals, it will go
out into the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]market[/COLOR][/COLOR] for fi nancing.
There will be up to 125 trucks per
day except on Sundays – truck traffi c
will be slightly below the level of the
pulp mill. The plant will conform to
the city’s noise ordinance.
On-site chipping will be done in an
enclosed building and there will be no
smell associated with the operation.
SEC subcommittee chair Tom Burrack
said Tuesday’s public hearing
is not the last opportunity for public
input. He said he expects to hold some
future proceedings in Coos County.
There is an opportunity for public
comment at all of the SEC meetings
and written comments are accepted
throughout the 8-month process.
The public can e-mail comments to
Jane. Murray@des.nh.gov. They can
also contact the two Counsels for the
Public from the state Senior Assistant
Attorneys General Allen Brooks
at allen.brooks@doj.nh.gov. Or Peter
Roth peter.roth@doj.nh.gov or by calling
271-3658.
The SEC subcommittee is charged
with reaching a decision by September
23.
http://www.laconiadailysun.com/BerlinPDF/2010/3/18B.pdf
Still holding strong. Berlin application is progressing and Laidlaw has a good team on their side.
Not sure on the Mass. projects. I hope they are still alive but I'm not sure. If they aren't, I will be very dissappointed.
Here is a link to all the info from the permit application. We will know if they get approved on September 23rd.
http://www.nhsec.nh.gov/2009-02/index.htm
Not sure on the Mass. projects. I hope they are still alive but I'm not sure. If they aren't, I will be very dissappointed.
Here is a link to all the info from the permit application. We will know if they get approved on September 23rd.
http://www.nhsec.nh.gov/2009-02/index.htm
mbb doesnt update...broken promise after broken promise on dates and projects...i have my doubts that this gets approved on time or at all. the deal with homeland was HUGE for LLEG and we heard a peep about it it 8 months ago and not a peep more. im not convinced the mbb has the fortitude to get the job done
Still holding my shares. Good news came out yesterday and Laidlaw is moving through the permit process. Not sure why the pps didn't go way up with the news. I hope they didn't sell shares into the news.
Public Service of NH Reaches Power Purchase Agreement with Laidlaw Energy
Wednesday 06/09/2010 1:12 PM ET - Businesswire
Related Companies
<TABLE class=dataTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><THEAD><TR><TD>Symbol</TD><TD align=right>Last</TD><TD align=right>%Chg</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR><TD>LLEG</TD><TD align=right>0.0015</TD><TD align=right>-11.76%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>As of 3:59 PM ET 6/10/10
Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc. (ticker symbol "LLEG") announced today that Public Service of New Hampshire has issued a news release concerning the execution of a Power Purchase Agreement to purchase power from Laidlaw's Berlin, NH Biomass-Energy Project. The full text of PSNH's release is as follows and can also be found at http://psnhnews.com/latestnews.cfm?lnid=203.
Biomass Plant Supports New Hampshire's RPS Goal of 25 x 25
BERLIN, N.H., June 9, 2010 -- Public Service of New Hampshire has reached agreement with Laidlaw Berlin BioPower LLC, an affiliate of Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc., to purchase the energy from a proposed wood-fired power generation facility planned for New Hampshire's North Country. When operational, the 70 megawatt gross capacity biomass facility in Berlin will be the largest wood-burning power plant in the state, and will move New Hampshire closer to its goal of 25 percent renewable energy by the year 2025.
"We are committed to growing our portfolio of renewable energy, and the Laidlaw biomass plant will take us a significant step forward toward meeting the state's Renewable Portfolio Standards mandate," noted Gary Long, PSNH's President and Chief Operating Officer. "Besides the energy, this plant will generate jobs -- both direct and indirect -- and we expect it to provide a real boost to the North Country's economy."
When operational, the plant will consume local, clean, wood chips which are byproducts of the local forest products industry and land management practices. "One of our key development strategies is to have Coos County become the renewable energy capital of Northern New England," said Max Makaitis, Economic Development Director, Androscoggin Valley Economic Recovery Corporation (AVER). "We are particularly excited about biomass projects like Laidlaw's, because they help create jobs, not only at the plant itself, but also in the forest, and in those services that support our foresters."
"We are proud to partner with PSNH, AVER and the Berlin community to make the North Country a leader in clean, renewable energy," said Michael Bartoszek, Laidlaw Berlin BioPower President and CEO. "This agreement is an affirmation of the hard work of many to ensure that we have a solid plan with which to move forward. We at Laidlaw are very pleased to play a role in helping to support the future economic success of Berlin and Coos County, and in particular the creation of jobs at a time when they are truly needed."
As a generation source that utilizes biomass, the Laidlaw plant will produce not only "energy," but also "renewable energy certificates" (RECs), which all providers of electricity in New Hampshire must obtain in order to comply with the state's renewable energy law. PSNH's agreement with Laidlaw calls for the utility to purchase the energy, the generating capacity, and the RECs produced by the biomass plant. PSNH expects that the amount of RECs purchased annually from Laidlaw will fulfill much of PSNH's "Class I" REC requirements through 2015 and a majority of the company's requirements over the next decade. The agreement between PSNH and Laidlaw runs for 20 years.
The long-term power purchase agreement must be considered and approved by the N.H. Public Utilities Commission in order to ensure that it is in the public interest. At this time, the Laidlaw project has an application pending before the NH Site Evaluation Committee (SEC), which is charged with regulating the development of significant new energy facilities.
With the addition of wood-fired energy produced by the 70 megawatt gross capacity Laidlaw biomass plant, PSNH will have arguably the highest percent of renewable energy of any electric utility in New England, with approximately 26 percent of the energy it supplies to its customers being renewable energy generated by PSNH itself or by independent New Hampshire resources selling energy to PSNH.
According to state rules, however, not all of PSNH's renewable energy sources are certified to produce RECs. Most of the energy produced by PSNH's hydroelectric facilities, for example, does not qualify under the NH Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).
"The development of new renewable energy sources that meet the State RPS requirements will take time and comes with a cost," noted Gary Long. "But, we have confidence that we will get there by growing our own portfolio and by continuing to partner with quality, economic projects that best serve our customers' interests."
For further information on Laidlaw please see www.laidlawenergy.com.
This communication contains statements expressing expectations of future events and/or results which may include, without limitation, statements concerning anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, potential markets, new products, research and development activities and similar matters. Such statements constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements based on future expectations rather than historical facts are
forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, Laidlaw provides no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Laidlaw undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE: Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc.
Laidlaw Michael B. Bartoszek, 212-480-9884 President & CEO info@LaidlawEnergy.com</PRE>
Public Service of NH Reaches Power Purchase Agreement with Laidlaw Energy
Wednesday 06/09/2010 1:12 PM ET - Businesswire
Related Companies
<TABLE class=dataTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><THEAD><TR><TD>Symbol</TD><TD align=right>Last</TD><TD align=right>%Chg</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR><TD>LLEG</TD><TD align=right>0.0015</TD><TD align=right>-11.76%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>As of 3:59 PM ET 6/10/10
Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc. (ticker symbol "LLEG") announced today that Public Service of New Hampshire has issued a news release concerning the execution of a Power Purchase Agreement to purchase power from Laidlaw's Berlin, NH Biomass-Energy Project. The full text of PSNH's release is as follows and can also be found at http://psnhnews.com/latestnews.cfm?lnid=203.
Biomass Plant Supports New Hampshire's RPS Goal of 25 x 25
BERLIN, N.H., June 9, 2010 -- Public Service of New Hampshire has reached agreement with Laidlaw Berlin BioPower LLC, an affiliate of Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc., to purchase the energy from a proposed wood-fired power generation facility planned for New Hampshire's North Country. When operational, the 70 megawatt gross capacity biomass facility in Berlin will be the largest wood-burning power plant in the state, and will move New Hampshire closer to its goal of 25 percent renewable energy by the year 2025.
"We are committed to growing our portfolio of renewable energy, and the Laidlaw biomass plant will take us a significant step forward toward meeting the state's Renewable Portfolio Standards mandate," noted Gary Long, PSNH's President and Chief Operating Officer. "Besides the energy, this plant will generate jobs -- both direct and indirect -- and we expect it to provide a real boost to the North Country's economy."
When operational, the plant will consume local, clean, wood chips which are byproducts of the local forest products industry and land management practices. "One of our key development strategies is to have Coos County become the renewable energy capital of Northern New England," said Max Makaitis, Economic Development Director, Androscoggin Valley Economic Recovery Corporation (AVER). "We are particularly excited about biomass projects like Laidlaw's, because they help create jobs, not only at the plant itself, but also in the forest, and in those services that support our foresters."
"We are proud to partner with PSNH, AVER and the Berlin community to make the North Country a leader in clean, renewable energy," said Michael Bartoszek, Laidlaw Berlin BioPower President and CEO. "This agreement is an affirmation of the hard work of many to ensure that we have a solid plan with which to move forward. We at Laidlaw are very pleased to play a role in helping to support the future economic success of Berlin and Coos County, and in particular the creation of jobs at a time when they are truly needed."
As a generation source that utilizes biomass, the Laidlaw plant will produce not only "energy," but also "renewable energy certificates" (RECs), which all providers of electricity in New Hampshire must obtain in order to comply with the state's renewable energy law. PSNH's agreement with Laidlaw calls for the utility to purchase the energy, the generating capacity, and the RECs produced by the biomass plant. PSNH expects that the amount of RECs purchased annually from Laidlaw will fulfill much of PSNH's "Class I" REC requirements through 2015 and a majority of the company's requirements over the next decade. The agreement between PSNH and Laidlaw runs for 20 years.
The long-term power purchase agreement must be considered and approved by the N.H. Public Utilities Commission in order to ensure that it is in the public interest. At this time, the Laidlaw project has an application pending before the NH Site Evaluation Committee (SEC), which is charged with regulating the development of significant new energy facilities.
With the addition of wood-fired energy produced by the 70 megawatt gross capacity Laidlaw biomass plant, PSNH will have arguably the highest percent of renewable energy of any electric utility in New England, with approximately 26 percent of the energy it supplies to its customers being renewable energy generated by PSNH itself or by independent New Hampshire resources selling energy to PSNH.
According to state rules, however, not all of PSNH's renewable energy sources are certified to produce RECs. Most of the energy produced by PSNH's hydroelectric facilities, for example, does not qualify under the NH Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).
"The development of new renewable energy sources that meet the State RPS requirements will take time and comes with a cost," noted Gary Long. "But, we have confidence that we will get there by growing our own portfolio and by continuing to partner with quality, economic projects that best serve our customers' interests."
For further information on Laidlaw please see www.laidlawenergy.com.
This communication contains statements expressing expectations of future events and/or results which may include, without limitation, statements concerning anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, potential markets, new products, research and development activities and similar matters. Such statements constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements based on future expectations rather than historical facts are
forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, Laidlaw provides no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Laidlaw undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE: Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc.
Laidlaw Michael B. Bartoszek, 212-480-9884 President & CEO info@LaidlawEnergy.com</PRE>
Approval Sought for Biomass Power Agreement
65 MW wood-fired plant in Berlin will be state’s largest
PSNH Seeks State Approval of Biomass Power Agreement
65 MW wood-fired plant in Berlin will be state’s largest
MANCHESTER, N.H., July 26, 2010 — Public Service of New Hampshire today asked state regulators to approve an agreement the utility has reached to purchase the output from a proposed wood-fired power plant in Berlin, NH.
Under the agreement, now pending consideration by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, PSNH would purchase all of the energy, the generating capacity, and the Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) produced by Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, a 65 megawatt (net) biomass plant which is planned for construction on the site of the former Fraser pulp mill.
In considering the proposed 20-year Power Purchase Agreement, the NHPUC has the responsibility to determine if it is in the public interest. “Considerable thought over more than two years went into developing this unique power purchase agreement,” said Gary Long, PSNH president and chief operating officer in pre-filed testimony to the NHPUC. “I truly believe it is in the best interests of PSNH and our customers over its term.”
The Laidlaw project is expected to burn about 750,000 tons of clean wood chips annually and produce approximately 500,000 megawatt hours of energy yearly. That is enough energy to power more than 60,000 average homes.
By creating energy through the burning of clean wood products, the Laidlaw facility will be certified by the State as a renewable energy source and will produce Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). All providers of electricity in New Hampshire must obtain RECs in order to comply with the state’s renewable energy law and the company expects that the amount of RECs purchased annually from Laidlaw will fulfill a significant portion of PSNH’s “Class I” REC requirements through 2015 and beyond.
Economic Benefits
Laidlaw’s spending on construction and ongoing operation and maintenance is expected to create significant economic benefits locally and statewide in terms of jobs, sales, Gross State Product and household earnings. In testimony accompanying the PSNH filing, economist Lisa K. Shapiro, Ph.D., reported:
Jobs:
The 24- to 32-month construction period is expected to include about 470 annual average NH jobs, including direct and indirect. This includes a construction work force that may range up to 200 – 300 workers per day during the peak.
Once complete, the project expects to directly employ 40 permanent workers and support about 200 additional indirect and induced jobs. Many of the jobs will be in the forestry and logging industry.
Spending:
Of the $125 million construction cost, about $70 - $80 million is expected to be infused into the local economy.
The annual operational payroll for plant workers will be about $2 million.
An estimated $20 - $25 million per year will be spent on biomass fuel purchases.
More than $1 million per year will be paid in local property taxes and other taxes such as the NH utility property tax.
Sales:
NH’s average annual sales will rise by about $152 million cumulatively as a result of local spending during the construction period, and Gross State Product (GSP) by about $79 million.
Annual spending on biomass fuel will increase NH’s average annual sales by about $35 - $44 million and average annual GSP by about $19 - $24 million.
Environmental Benefits
Besides providing PSNH with a resource with which to meet its obligations under the state’s renewable energy law, the Laidlaw project is expected to have a direct positive impact on the environment, with virtually no emissions of sulfur dioxide and low emission levels of nitrogen oxides. In addition, the energy generated is expected to be considered carbon-neutral, with no requirements to obtain carbon dioxide emission allowances through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The addition of 65 megawatts of biomass generation will provide a boost to the region’s energy security and independence. The fuel source will be an 11 million acre “wood basket” that is within a 100-mile radium of the project, mainly in Maine and New Hampshire, the first and second most heavily forested states in the nation, respectively.
PSNH’s Renewable Energy Profile
PSNH owns and operates the 50 megawatt “Northern Wood Power” station, which is currently the state’s largest biomass power generation facility, located in Portsmouth. The company also hosts one of the largest solar facilities in New Hampshire, a 51 kilowatt array in Manchester. In 2006, PSNH worked with Iberdrola Renewables on the construction of a 24 megawatt wind farm in Lempster, and purchases 90 percent of that project’s energy and RECs. The company is now anticipating the development of Laidlaw’s biomass facility in Berlin, and its production of more than 400,000 megawatt hours of energy annually. Together with the purchase of energy from smaller existing facilities – mainly biomass and hydro – about 26 percent of the energy consumed by PSNH energy customers will be generated by renewable energy sources once the Laidlaw facility begins commercial operation.
65 MW wood-fired plant in Berlin will be state’s largest
PSNH Seeks State Approval of Biomass Power Agreement
65 MW wood-fired plant in Berlin will be state’s largest
MANCHESTER, N.H., July 26, 2010 — Public Service of New Hampshire today asked state regulators to approve an agreement the utility has reached to purchase the output from a proposed wood-fired power plant in Berlin, NH.
Under the agreement, now pending consideration by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, PSNH would purchase all of the energy, the generating capacity, and the Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) produced by Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, a 65 megawatt (net) biomass plant which is planned for construction on the site of the former Fraser pulp mill.
In considering the proposed 20-year Power Purchase Agreement, the NHPUC has the responsibility to determine if it is in the public interest. “Considerable thought over more than two years went into developing this unique power purchase agreement,” said Gary Long, PSNH president and chief operating officer in pre-filed testimony to the NHPUC. “I truly believe it is in the best interests of PSNH and our customers over its term.”
The Laidlaw project is expected to burn about 750,000 tons of clean wood chips annually and produce approximately 500,000 megawatt hours of energy yearly. That is enough energy to power more than 60,000 average homes.
By creating energy through the burning of clean wood products, the Laidlaw facility will be certified by the State as a renewable energy source and will produce Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). All providers of electricity in New Hampshire must obtain RECs in order to comply with the state’s renewable energy law and the company expects that the amount of RECs purchased annually from Laidlaw will fulfill a significant portion of PSNH’s “Class I” REC requirements through 2015 and beyond.
Economic Benefits
Laidlaw’s spending on construction and ongoing operation and maintenance is expected to create significant economic benefits locally and statewide in terms of jobs, sales, Gross State Product and household earnings. In testimony accompanying the PSNH filing, economist Lisa K. Shapiro, Ph.D., reported:
Jobs:
The 24- to 32-month construction period is expected to include about 470 annual average NH jobs, including direct and indirect. This includes a construction work force that may range up to 200 – 300 workers per day during the peak.
Once complete, the project expects to directly employ 40 permanent workers and support about 200 additional indirect and induced jobs. Many of the jobs will be in the forestry and logging industry.
Spending:
Of the $125 million construction cost, about $70 - $80 million is expected to be infused into the local economy.
The annual operational payroll for plant workers will be about $2 million.
An estimated $20 - $25 million per year will be spent on biomass fuel purchases.
More than $1 million per year will be paid in local property taxes and other taxes such as the NH utility property tax.
Sales:
NH’s average annual sales will rise by about $152 million cumulatively as a result of local spending during the construction period, and Gross State Product (GSP) by about $79 million.
Annual spending on biomass fuel will increase NH’s average annual sales by about $35 - $44 million and average annual GSP by about $19 - $24 million.
Environmental Benefits
Besides providing PSNH with a resource with which to meet its obligations under the state’s renewable energy law, the Laidlaw project is expected to have a direct positive impact on the environment, with virtually no emissions of sulfur dioxide and low emission levels of nitrogen oxides. In addition, the energy generated is expected to be considered carbon-neutral, with no requirements to obtain carbon dioxide emission allowances through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The addition of 65 megawatts of biomass generation will provide a boost to the region’s energy security and independence. The fuel source will be an 11 million acre “wood basket” that is within a 100-mile radium of the project, mainly in Maine and New Hampshire, the first and second most heavily forested states in the nation, respectively.
PSNH’s Renewable Energy Profile
PSNH owns and operates the 50 megawatt “Northern Wood Power” station, which is currently the state’s largest biomass power generation facility, located in Portsmouth. The company also hosts one of the largest solar facilities in New Hampshire, a 51 kilowatt array in Manchester. In 2006, PSNH worked with Iberdrola Renewables on the construction of a 24 megawatt wind farm in Lempster, and purchases 90 percent of that project’s energy and RECs. The company is now anticipating the development of Laidlaw’s biomass facility in Berlin, and its production of more than 400,000 megawatt hours of energy annually. Together with the purchase of energy from smaller existing facilities – mainly biomass and hydro – about 26 percent of the energy consumed by PSNH energy customers will be generated by renewable energy sources once the Laidlaw facility begins commercial operation.
