Hearing set for Sept. 28 on appeal of Vancouver, Washington, planning authority's decision to deny Clark County, Schneider Electric's plans to build biomass-fueled CHP plant that would provide up to 4 MW of power

Bdebbie Garcia

LOS ANGELES , August 30, 2011 (Industry Intelligence) – A hearing has been set for Sept. 28 on an appeal of a local authority’s decision denying zoning approval for a proposed biomass-fueled combined heat and power plant in Vancouver, Washington, reported The Columbian on Aug. 29.

Schneider Electric SA and Clark County, which are jointly developing the project, claim that biomass burning for steam and power generation should be allowed at the site, which is zoned for light industrial uses.

Within two weeks of the hearing, the hearing examiner is expected to issue a written opinion.

On Aug. 4, Planning Review Manager Chad Eiken ruled that the land, which is owned by Clark County, is not zoned for the intended biomass facility, The Columbian reported.

The proposed biomass facility would burn wood waste to generate power that would provide central hot water, heating and cooling for five county buildings and up to 4 megawatts of excess electricity.

Schneider would build, finance and operate the plant, as well as sell the extra electricity. The France-based company is leasing the land from the county for 20 years and plans to invest up to $1.2 million of its own money in the project, reported The Columbian.

The primary source of this article is The Columbian, Vancouver, Washington, on August 29, 2011.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.