Bio Energy Must Reapply for Permit

State environmental officials in New Hampshire have ordered Bio Energy, a wood burning power company with a plant in Hopkinton, N.H., to reapply for a state permit to burn material, according to a report in the Concord Monitor (Concord, N.H.).

The company had plans to burn wood from construction and demolition debris, but those plans have been on hold for the last several months because of new laws and revised regulations. Now, the company must reapply for a permit even to burn only clean wood chips, according to the report.

The company had operated a wood-fueled power plant from 1983 until 2001. It then shut down and pursued permits to allow it to burn wood from the C&D debris stream. Permits were issued by the state Department of Environmental Services (DES) and later revoked when the DES said the company had withheld information during the permitting process, according to the report.

In addition, the state Legislature has approved a yearlong ban on the burning of C&D wood debris while environmental officials further explore the impact on air quality. The ban is set to expire in July, however some lawmakers have proposed an extension.