Vancouver, Washington, city council votes for six-month moratorium on development in zone where Clark County and its private partner, Schneider Electric, want to build biomass power plant that would burn wood debris

Rachel Carter

VANCOUVER, Washington , October 11, 2011 (Associated Press) – Vancouver City Council voted Monday night for a six-month moratorium on development in zone where Clark County and its private partner want to locate a biomass plant that would burn wood debris to generate electricity.

The Columbian reports ( http://bit.ly/pgMgHV) the moratorium means it's highly unlikely that Schneider Electric will be eligible for an $8 million federal grant that expires at the end of the year.

The plant on the site of a former bottling plant would supply heating and cooling power plus hot water for five county buildings. Schneider Electric would build the $28 million plant with no financial support from taxpayers. It would sell excess power.

City leaders are concerned about pollution, odor and traffic.

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