TRAVERSE CITY -- An upcoming meeting could answer some questions about a proposed wood-burning power plant, though a local group hopes to prove the plant isn't necessary.
Traverse City Light & Power will host an April 7 biomass forum, the third such meeting on the topic and the last scheduled before Light & Power's board decides the matter April 20.
Light & Power could decide to build a plant on a seven-acre site off Parsons Road in Traverse City. The facility would be fired on wood, but could accept designated fuel crops or other items.
The plant is part of Light & Power's plan to generate 30 percent of its power from renewable energy sources by 2020. Only 1 percent of the utility's energy comes from renewable sources now.
Area residents provided input and questions at two public forums last month, and the April 7 forum is designed to address some of the most commonly asked questions.
"There was a lot of questions asked and a lot of issues raised, and it's to provide feedback on those issues," Light & Power Director Ed Rice said.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Land Use Institute on Tuesday evening planned to give a presentation to the Light & Power board about what's termed a "feed-in tariff system." MLUI staffers believe such a system -- coupled with increased energy efficiency -- could allow Light & Power to achieve its "30 by 20" goal without biomass.
In a feed-in tariff system, local residents who generate their own power through windmills, solar panels or other means can sell excess power back to the utility at fair market value. Incentives can be offered to participating residents.
"It's worked in many places ... in areas across the country, it's working well," said Brian Beauchamp, an MLUI policy specialist.
Beauchamp, who was to make the presentation, hopes Light & Power implements the idea.
"We're certainly hoping for their full support," he said.
Rice said Light & Power plans to someday develop a similar system, though he doesn't think it's a realistic replacement for the amount of power a biomass plant could generate. Dozens or even hundreds of local generation units could create an "operational mess" and create safety issues, he contends.
The April 7 forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Hagerty Center.
