Macpherson, which has been one of the owners of Mt Poso Cogeneration since 1987, acquired the plant from its previous partners along with DTE Energy Services, a diversified energy company, effective 1 November and will begin construction on the biomass power plant this week.
While DTE will operate the plant and co-lead its conversion to biomass using wood from construction waste, tree trimmings and agricultural sources, Macpherson will increase its ownership position in the Mt Poso cogeneration facility to 50% and will continue to have a management role.
The energy from the Mt. Poso biomass power plant that currently uses coal as its primary fuel source ill be sold to Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a 15-year agreement approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.
The biomass conversion project is expected to boost the local economy by creating 90 local construction jobs, 10 new full-time jobs at the cogeneration plant when conversion is completed in 2012, and additional jobs supplying wood to the plant and providing other services.
Macpherson Energy president and CEO Donald Macpherson said that the biomass project, and the agreement to sell the clean energy to PG&E, will help California meet its renewable energy goals.
