Three US coal plants convert to biomass
November 4, 2011
By
Scott Jamieson
Nov 4, 2011, Washington, D.C. – Enviva LP has signed a contract with Richmond, Va.-based Dominion Virginia Power, one of the U.S.’s largest energy producers, to supply biomass to two power facilities in southeast Virginia.
In April, Dominion announced plans to convert three 63-megawatt coal
burning peaking plants to 50-megawatt continuous power plants using
biomass. Enviva will supply two of these plants, located in Southampton
and Hopewell, Va. Biomass fuel provided by Enviva is a renewable
alternative to fossil fuels. Dominion’s application to convert the power
stations is pending before the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
“Enviva is delighted to be a key part of Dominion’s decision to be
among the first U.S. utilities to embrace the power of biomass,
benefitting their customers, the economy and the environment,” Enviva
Chairman and CEO John Keppler said, adding “Dominion’s selection of
Enviva reflects our increasing position as a preferred partner and
supplier to utilities seeking sustainably generated, reliable biomass
supply for renewable energy generation.”
In the last year, Enviva has rapidly expanded its operating footprint
in the Mid-Atlantic region where it has well-established relationships
within the timber industry and the fiber supply chain. Enviva is already
among the largest U.S. biomass manufacturers supplying wood pellets to
European utilities.
Enviva is best known in the Mid-Atlantic region for its growing wood
pellet manufacturing and export business. This fall, Enviva’s flagship
wood pellet plant in Ahoskie, N.C., will commence operations, producing
up to 400,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year. In August, the
company also announced plans to develop a second wood pellet facility in
nearby Northampton County and a strategic partnership with Biomass
Energy to operate its Bumpass, Va.-based wood chip and pellet
manufacturing facility. Wood pellets from these facilities ship out of
the company’s deep water port facility in Chesapeake, Va. Enviva also
operates two wood pellet facilities in Mississippi. The company’s total
annual production capacity will reach 750,000 metric tons by the end of
2011.
As a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified company, Enviva
will source the woody biomass from local suppliers who practice
sustainable, responsible forest management. The supply agreement with
Dominion will create jobs throughout Enviva’s logging and forestry
supply chain.
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