Proposed $50 Million Biomass Power Plant to Be Built in New Mexico

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Western Water and Power Production (Santa Fe, New Mexico) is expecting to receive approval for its air quality permit by the end of this month to construct a 30-megawatt biomass power plant (PEC 42000338) in Raton, New Mexico.

Biomass is a common term for material obtained from plants or animal manure. Many biomass-fired electricity generators use waste materials such as straw or discarded domestic materials, which is considered a "neutral" fuel, therefore; does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Biomass is used in a similar way as fossil fuels, by burning it at a constant rate in a boiler furnace to heat water and produce steam.

The power produced by the biomass stations is estimated to cost less than the average power generation costs, and will become more affordable as the technology improves.

The bid for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) is scheduled to go out in the spring of 2004. Considering that it would take approximately two years to complete construction, the plant should be up and running by the fall of 2006.