Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: September 3, 2008
Hawaii’s Conversion of Coal Plant to Biomass Marks a New Trend Cellulosic Ethanol Facilities Marching Ahead GM to Spend $500 Million to Launch the Chevy Cruze, a New Small Car Ford Invests $75 Million to Convert Truck Plant for Small Cars San Francisco Approves a Tough Green Building Standard High Fuel Costs Ground U.S. Travelers on Labor Day Weekend Hawaii‘s Conversion of Coal Plant to Biomass Marks a New Trend A coal-fired power plant in Pepeekeo, Hawaii, that formerly provided electricity to a sugar mill is now being converted into a 24-megawatt (MW) biomass power plant. MMA Renewable Ventures is financing the conversion and will operate the new plant, which will be called the H? Honua Bioenergy Facility. Located about 8 miles north of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, the facility will draw on residual wood from the local timber industry and other biomass wastes to produce enough power for about 18,000 homes, meeting up to 10% of the Big Island’s electricity needs. See the MMA Renewable Ventures press release (PDF 83 KB) and the H? Honua Bioenergy LLC Web site. The conversion from coal to biomass power is a growing trend in the U.S. Back in 2006, […]