Seminole Electric, a nonprofit wholesale power supplier to 10 electric distribution co-ops in Florida, will add 25 megawatts (MW) of biomass energy to its resource portfolio under a contract signed in July 2009 with Ft. Lauderdale-based Southeast Renewable Fuels.
The facility is expected to go into commercial service sometime in late 2011. The new contract would give Seminole the option of purchasing the facility’s output through November 30, 2036.
The new facility is also expected to help Seminole meet forecasted growth in the demand for electricity in Florida.
Tim Woodbury, chief executive of Seminole, said: “The new contract reflects the cooperative’s continued commitment to renewable resources and environmental stewardship. Biomass is clean, efficient, reliable, and renewable, and it’s price competitive with traditional energy sources, an important factor in holding down the retail cost of electricity.”
Aaron Pepper, chief executive of Southeast, said:” SRF has taken a unique approach to Florida policymakers’ calls for development of advanced energy concepts. Instead of relying on unproven technology that hasn’t been scaled to production levels, SRF has modeled the facility after well-established processes successfully deployed in places such as Brazil.
“We are very pleased to be working with Seminole Electric and thankful to the State of Florida, Governor Crist, Commissioner Bronson, and the Florida Energy and Climate Commission for assisting in developing the State’s first commercial Advanced Bio-Refinery.”
