East Texas Considers Wood-Burning Power Plant

The Austin City Council will vote on a proposed wood burning power plant in East Texas on Aug. 21, according to a report in The Morning Telegraph (Tyler, Texas).

Development of the $300 million facility could begin in 2009 if Austin approves a 20-year, $2.3 billion energy purchase agreement from the project developers—Energy Management Inc. and BayCorp Holdings through their joint venture Nacogdoches Power LLC.

The plant would be located near the town of Sacul, Texas. It would be the second facility using wood waste to produce energy being developed in East Texas. According to the report, construction is scheduled to begin on a $100 million plant near Lufkin, Texas, in September. The project is being developed by Aspen Power LLC.

The plant could be fueled by any type of wood product, including forest residue, mill residue, urban debris and whole trees. Operation of the plant would require a million green tons of fuel per year.