Traverse City Record-Eagle

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    Biomass Plant Feedback TCL&P
January 22, 2010

Residents urge utility to go slow on plant

TCL&P considering building biomass energy facility

BY ART BUKOWSKI

TRAVERSE CITY -- Many gathered for a Traverse City Light & Power meeting held to discuss a proposed biomass plant implored officials to carefully weigh their options before proceeding.

The public utility company held a meeting Thursday to further discuss the potential construction of a local biomass plant. Such a plant could be fired by wood, mill wastes or other plant materials.

"We're asking Traverse City Light & Power to take this very slowly," said Greg Reisig, an Elk Rapids resident and environmental activist. "It's a very important decision, please don't rush ahead too fast."

A standing-room only crowd watched as the TCL&P; board received a presentation from Robert Froese, a forestry professor at Michigan Tech commissioned by the board to complete a study on biofuel availability within 75 miles of Traverse City.

Froese said several local resources could be used to fire the plant, and seemed to suggest that area resources could support it.

TCL&P; Executive Director Ed Rice said 99 percent of electricity generated by the utility is from coal. Millions of dollars spent on that coal goes out of state, he said, so a biomass plant that uses locally-harvested fuel could be a boon for the area.

"It seems like it's a heck of an opportunity for this area to improve the economy, improve jobs ... and continue to enhance our green reputation and the quality of life in the area," he said.

But some expressed concern about the impact such a plant could have on the environment.

"We seem to have an illusion of an unending supply of wood, and I'm concerned about that," said Traverse City resident Ann Rogers.

"Who's going to regulate this?" Traverse City resident Maureen Voss asked. "How are we going to make sure our forests are going to stay in balance?"

Reisig and Traverse City resident Jeff Gibbs said the public needs to be more involved with the process. Members of the public were allowed 3 minutes each to speak at the end of the meeting, and Gibbs wants to see the board give people who oppose the plant more input.

"There needs to be a back-and-forth process, not a one-way process," he said. "We need to have a debate with all sides ... if we make a mistake, we're in real trouble."

TCL&P; officials said they planned to further involve the public before any final decision is made.

"Tonight is just one of many many meetings and steps in this process," board Vice-Chairman Mike Coco said.

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